Fatal cardiac arrhythmia in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a well-recognized syndrome with typical diagnostic features, has been implicated in rare causes of sudden death. Involvement of TTP on the myocardium and cardiac conduction system has been characterized, but the consequences related to these effects are infrequently reported. The outcome is almost always death, thus underscoring the need for early detection and therapy. A case is reported of a 36-year-old man who suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia related to intramyocardial hemorrhage with a diagnosis of TTP established by postmortem examination.