Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Jul 2012
ReviewAutoimmune thrombotic microangiopathy: advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
Thrombotic microangiopathy, or the syndrome of thrombocytopenia and hemolysis with schistocytes on blood smears, has been a subject of uncertainty and intense controversy. The pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy was unknown and no classification of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome was satisfactory. ⋯ This pathogenesis-based disease classification requires new diagnostic approaches and provides a framework for rational therapeutic designs. This review discusses the new concepts in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of thrombotic microangiopathy, with particular emphasis on the autoimmune causes of ADAMTS-13 deficiency and defective complement regulation.