Alemtuzumab-induced immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A newly described drug-related autoimmune disease

Abstract

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare and life-threatening disease that may result from drug exposure. We report a case of iTTP occurring in a 39-year-old patient, 45 months following introduction of the anti-CD52 lymphoid cell depleting monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab, to treat a relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Treatment consisted in plasma exchange, corticosteroids and caplacizumab, allowing clinical remission 3 months after the diagnosis, attested by the absence of thrombocytopenia and recovery of ADAMTS-13 activity. As other autoimmune disorders, iTTP may occur following alemtuzumab. This diagnosis should be suspected in patients with features of thrombotic microangiopathy following this treatment.

Keywords: TTP; autoimmune disease; drug antibodies.