SHILLONG, Sep 5: The first plasma exchange in Shillong was conducted at the Woodland Hospital for a Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) patient.
Woodland Hospital consultant nephrologist Dr Indakiewlin Kharbuli told reporters on Monday she had treated the patient, a 39-year-old woman.
The doctor said the case was referred to her by the hospital’s medical specialist after it was observed that the patient’s blood profile and liver enzyme were drench, haemoglobin was less and she had kidney-related issues.
She said the patient’s platelet count was 4,500 but normally it should be around 1.5 lakh to 2.5 lakh. Stating that they had suspected it to be a case of TTP, she said they had to do a confirmatory test and for which, the samples had to be sent to Delhi.
“We had to wait for three to four days to get the test report. The report confirmed that it is a case of TTP,” Dr Kharbuli said.
She said they had immediately started plasma exchange treatment. After four rounds of the treatment, the platelet count went up 72,000, she said.
The patient was discharged in June this year after her condition had improved. Her platelet count was 1.7 lakh when she had visited Dr Kharbuli two weeks ago for a check-up.
“The patient is stable. There is no fresh complaint,” the consultant nephrologist said.
Stating that acquired TTP is a very dangerous disease, she said 90% of patients would die without treatment due to bleeding or other complications.
However, she continued, the mortality risk is less than 10% if the patient receives the treatment.
“Plasma exchange is a form of purification system. It is a process where we change the plasma of patients through a special filter. The best part is that it is a simple procedure where it takes only around 20 minutes,” Dr Kharbuli said.
