Genotype and Phenotype Correlation in Hereditary Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Upshaw-Schulman Syndrome)

Hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (Upshaw-Schulman syndrome) is a rare disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia as a result of platelet consumption, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, occlusion of the microvasculature with von Willebrand factor-platelet-thrombic and ischemic end organ damage. The underlying patho-mechanism is a severe congenital ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 13) deficiency which is the result of compound heterozygous or homozygous ADAMTS13 gene mutations. Although considered a monogenic disorder the clinical presentation in Upshaw-Schulman syndrome patients varies considerably without an apparent genotype-phenotype correlation. In 2006 we have initiated a registry for patients with Upshaw-Schulman syndrome and their family members to identify possible triggers of acute bouts of TTP, to document individual