Concurrent myocardial infarction in the setting of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report

Abstract

Key Clinical Message In acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), apart from urgent treatment, assessing the patient's medical history, especially conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus that could trigger TTP, is crucial. Rarely, TTP patients may experience cardiac conditions as severe as a myocardial infarction. Abstract A 45‐year‐old woman manifested severe and acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) of unknown origin. The patient's symptoms, the laboratory data, the detection of the reduction in ADAMTS13 activity, and the presence of schistocytes on the peripheral smear confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was then planned for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Prior to the scheduled TPE, she suddenly experienced extreme shortness of breath and chest pain. An electrocardiogram was obtained immediately after reporting signs of an inferior myocardial infarction. Further examinations to acquire information about the patient's underlying medical conditions in order to study the secondary causes of TTP, combined with the results of the laboratory tests, resulted in the patient being diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Keywords

• case report
• myocardial infarction
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura