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Brain MRI and SPET in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences volume 16, pages 149–151 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

We describe 5 cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with neurological manifestations. All of the patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following recovery; two underwent single photon emission tomography (SPET) during the acute phase of the disease. SPET showed reduced cerebral blood flow, whereas the results of brain MRI were normal in all patients. Plasma exchange (PE) treatment was promptly instituted in all cases.

Our findings show that prompt treatment with PE may avoid permanent brain damage even when the neurological signs and symptoms are relate to brain ischemia.

Sommario

Descriviamo 5 casi di Porpora Trombotica Trombocitopenica con manifestazioni neurologiche. Tutti i casi sono stati studiati mediante Risonanza Magnetica Cerebrale dopo la regressione della sintomatologia neurologica. Durante la fase acuta della malattia, due di loro sono stati studiati anche con SPET cerebrale. La SPET ha mostrato una riduzione del flusso ematico cerebrale mentre la Risonanza Magnetica è risultata normale in tutti i pazienti. Il trattamento con plasmaferesi veniva iniziato rapidamente in tutti i casi.

I nostri dati indicano che un repentino trattamento con plasmaferesi può evitare un danno neurologico permanente, sebbene i segni ed i sintomi siano ascrivibili all'ischemia cerebrale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Ematologia “L. e A. Seragnoli”, Università di Bologna, Bologna

    Vianelli N. & Gugliotta L.

  2. Divisione di Medicina Nucleare, Ospedale S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna

    Corbelli C.

  3. Servizio di Neurologia, Ospedale S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    Fiorani L., Vignatelli L. & D'Alessandro R.

Authors
  1. Fiorani L.
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  2. Vianelli N.
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  3. Gugliotta L.
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  4. Vignatelli L.
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  5. Corbelli C.
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  6. D'Alessandro R.
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Fiorani, L., Vianelli, N., Gugliotta, L. et al. Brain MRI and SPET in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Ital J Neuro Sci 16, 149–151 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282981

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282981

Key Words

  • TTP
  • MRI
  • SPET
  • neurological manifestations