ALTERED MENTAL STATUS IN THROMBOTIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA IS SECONDARY TO NONCONVULSIVE STATUS EPILEPTICUS

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a syndrome with numerous neurological manifestations including altered mental status and seizur es. At least 10% of the patients with TTP seen at our institution had nonconvulsive status epilepticus as a cause of or associated with thei r altered mental status. We propose that altered mental status seconda ry to nonconvulsive status epilepticus requiring electroencephalograph ic diagnosis and antiepileptic medication occurs in a substantial prop ortion of patients with TTP.