Successful treatment of hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with fresh frozen plasma and plasma exchange.

Four patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and seven with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) were treated with infusions of fresh frozen plasma (FFP). In one patient with HUS and five patients with TTP this treatment was combined with plasma exchange (PE). The additional treatment varied; corticosteroids, antiplatelet drugs, heparin and blood exchange. All but one patient recovered completely in spite of severe illness with uremia, oliguria and/or cerebral symptoms during the acute phase. The results were surprisingly good in comparison with other published series. The success must in the first place be attributed to early diagnosis and to the infusions of FFP. PE seemed to potentiate the effect of FFP.