OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations, treatment strategies and outcomes of 12 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura(TTP).

METHODSThe clinical data from 12 cases of SLE associated with TTP admitted in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2002 to August 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS12 cases of SLE associated with TTP included 11 females and 1 male, their median age was 34.5 years old, among them 5 cases of TTP were diagnosed during the treatment of SLE, 7 cases of TTP were comfirmed together with SLE on admission. The hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and neurological deficits appeared in all the patients, the renal impairment was observed in 10 cases, the schistocytes of peripheral blood smears (>1%) were present in 9 cases, a severely reduction of ADAMTS 13 activity (<5%) with inhibitor-positive had been demonstrated in 5 cases, all of the 12 patients were treated with glucocorticoid, and 11 cases were treated in combination with other drug(10 cases combined with cytotoxics, 1 case with intravenous gamma globulin, 1 case with rituximab), plasma exchange were used in 10 cases, and 2 cases died, 2 cases without receiving plasma exchange all died, renal damage was observed in all the dead patients.

CONCLUSIONClinical manifestation and repeated examinations of peripheral blood smears are helpful for early diagnosis of SLE associated with TTP, the plasma exchange combined with glucocortcoids is an effective treatment method, the renal impairment may be a risk factor related with poor prognosis.