ADAMTS-13 is implicated in the pathophysiology of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Plasma exchange is thought to be effective through removal of a harmful substance or provision of a required material such as ADAMTS-13. As various methods are used to prepare plasma we determined the effects of storage and solvent detergent treatment on the ADAMTS-13 levels in plasma.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. cag@ca.inter.net