UNILATERAL EMBOLI IN A PATIENT WITH THROMBOTIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare disease most commonly as sociated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fev er, neurologic disorders, and renal dysfunction. We describe a patient with a history of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura that had been q uiescent for 4 months; he had a 3-week history of painful purpuric les ions on the left hand only. He also had mottling and a livedoid purpur a of the distal fingertips, splinter hemorrhages of the left fingernai ls, and a decreased radial pulse. Findings of a biopsy specimen reveal ed multiple capillary and small vessel thromboses. Contrast aortograph y demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm of the proximal descending thoracic ao rta with stenosis of the left subclavian artery at its origin and an a ssociated thrombus.