In patients with suspected immune TTP, admission source impacts hospital length of stay and time to therapeutic plasma exchange impacts clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

When immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is suspected, outcomes are impacted by time to therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). We evaluated the impact of time to TPE on outcomes in suspected TTP cases admitted through the Emergency Department (ED) vs. transferred from another facility (Transfer).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample, we examined the association between TTP outcomes and admission source (ED vs. Transfer) for the primary outcome of time to TPE. A second stratified analyses within each analytic group examined the association of time to TPE (<1 day, 1 day, 2 days, and >2 days) and outcomes for the composite outcome of mortality, major bleeding and thrombosis.

RESULTS

Of 1195 cases, 793 (66 %) were admitted through the ED and 402 (34 %) were transferred. Compared to ED cases, Transfers had a longer hospital length of stay (14.69 vs. 16.65 days, p = 0.0060). For ED cases, TPE after >2 days was associated with higher odds of the composite outcome (OR = 1.68 95 % CI: 1.11-2.54; p = 0.0150) and mortality (OR = 3.01 95 % CI: 1.38-6.57; p = 0.0056). For Transfers, TPE on day 2 was associated with higher odds of the composite outcome (OR = 3.00 95 % CI: 1.31-6.89; p = 0.0096) and mortality (OR = 4.95 95 % CI: 1.12-21.88; p = 0.0350).

CONCLUSIONS

In suspected TTP admitted through the ED or transferred, there was no significant difference in time to TPE. A longer time to TPE was associated with worse outcomes. Future studies should evaluate strategies to decrease initial time to TPE.