ADAMTS13 testing: Why bother?

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Kremer Hovinga and colleagues demonstrate that a lower level of initial plasmaADAMTS13activity (< 10%) is associated with higher risk of relapse in patients with TTP. Also, patients with a low plasma ADAMTS13 activity and high-titer inhibitor (≥ 2 BU) appear to have lower survival rate. These findings suggest a role for clinical testing of plasma ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors in care of TTP patients.