Key Symptoms Of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Fatigue

Fatigue can be caused by several factors but is most commonly associated with hemolytic anemia in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patients. Hemolytic anemia is when an individual's red blood cells are being destroyed or killed faster than the body is producing new red blood cells, leading to a gross shortage of functional red blood cells. When there are not enough red blood cells, the tissues around the body do not receive enough oxygen to carry out their functional processes. One critical process that requires oxygen in the cells is the generation of usable energy for the cell, a process referred to as ATP. When there is a shortage of energy being made around the body, the energy and oxygen are allocated to the cells and tissues considered critical. This mechanism leaves less overall oxygen and energy for the cells responsible for moving the muscles of the limbs because they are not as critical to survival as the cells that make up the vital organs. This shortage of energy makes a thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patient experience fatigue.