Pathology of the Cardiac Conduction System in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Abstract

In 3 patients dying with TTP [thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura] the cardiac conduction system was regularly involved. One patient had Stokes-Adams attacks which were in part due to a focal but virtually complete transection of the His bundle by infarction secondary to an arteriolar occlusion characteristic of TTP. Although there is no question that the familiar pathology of the brain long recognized in TTP accounts for many of the neurologic symptoms of the disease, transient disturbances of cardiac rhythm or conduction may also produce such symptoms and furthermore aggravate or precipitate those primarily due to pathology in the brain.