Novel diagnostic test may help predict risk for relapse of TTP
Dated: 4/30/2008
Vermillion, Inc. has reported findings from an Ohio State University (OSU) clinical study that indicated that a surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight (SELDI-TOF)-based thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) diagnostic test could be used to help estimate the risk of TTP relapses during clinical remission.
OSU currently offers the TTP test as a laboratory developed test, based on an exclusive licensing agreement with Vermillion, and for which Vermillion sells OSU supplies and laboratory reagents.
The data – published recently in the online edition of the British Journal of Haematology – indicate that use of the test may provide a novel screening strategy to identify patients who may benefit from prophylactic treatment to help prevent relapse of this serious blood disorder.
TTP is caused by a deficient activity of the enzyme ADAMTS13, which leads to platelet clumping, red blood cell destruction, and, in serious cases, to neurological abnormalities and renal failure.
Says Haifeng M. Wu, M.D., lead investigator of the study and Assistant Professor of Pathology and Medicine and Director of the Clinical Coagulation Laboratory at OSU Medical Center: "The SELDI-TOF technology was instrumental in improving sensitivity for extremely low levels of ADAMTS13, which may be used to help identify patients who could be candidates for prophylactic treatment based upon their increased risk for relapse of this devastating blood disorder."
The study showed that extremely low levels of ADAMTS13 activity are associated with increased risk of TTP relapses during remission.
A key characteristic of the assay is that it is more sensitive than other assays and exhibits improved accuracy at low (<2.5%) ADAMTS13 activity.
