[-Case report of clinical and pathophysiological similarities of Moschkowitz disease and HELLP syndrome-].

This case report describes for the first time a manifestation of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP, Moschcowitz's disease) during pregnancy. The characteristic neurologic symptoms of TTP were missing, while the typical clinical signs of the HELLP syndrome could be observed. Furthermore the biochemical proof of TTP was obtained by tracing ultra-large clotting factor VIII (von Willebrand factor) multimers in the patient's plasma. Thus the assumption is supported that TTP and HELLP syndrome are diseases of one pathophysiological entity with different symptomatologies. Because of the frequent relapse of TTP, differentiation between TTP and HELLP syndrome is of great clinical importance, independent of future pregnancies.