Pregnancy-onset thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with nephrotic syndrome: a case report

Pregnancy-onset thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) was reported by many obstetricians and hematologists, but less by nephrologists, and the detailed clinical course of its renal complication is not known. Here, we report a case of a 33-year-old pregnant woman who suffered from pregnancy-onset TTP with nephrotic syndrome which was controlled by the termination of pregnancy. On admission, she had periorbital and lower leg edema at 32 weeks of gestation. Her serum albumin level was 2.8 g/dL and the urine protein/creatinine ratio was 4.1 g/g Cr. Besides those, she had thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and severe deficiency of A Disintegrin-like and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin type 1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS-13) activity. Thus, she was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome due to pregnancy-onset TTP. A cesarean section was performed without complications for the patient and her baby. Then, all her symptoms improved shortly. She was suspected of congenital TTP because of no ADAMTS-13 inhibitor results and the persistent deficiency of ADAMTS-13 activity even after her condition improved. Pregnancy-onset TTP can cause nephrotic syndrome. Termination of pregnancy should be considered in cases with pregnancy-onset TTP to protect kidney function.