Thrombotic microangiopathy induced by oral contraceptive pills - a case report

Thrombotic microangiopathy(TMA) is a condition characterized by changes in endothelial phenotype. Here the characterized lesion is the arteriolar and capillary wall thickening, intra vascular platelet fibrin thrombi and partial or complete vessel lumen occlusion. It is caused by complement abnormalities, ADAMTS 13 deficiency, infections, pregnancy, drugs or metastatic carcinomas. Drugs like quinine are proved causative factors for thrombotic microangiopathies1 and included as etiologic factors in classification of TMAs. There are anecdotal reports of oral contraceptive pills causing thrombotic microangiopathies. Here we describe a 37 year old female presenting with thrombotic microangiopathy caused by oral contraceptive pills. She was successfully treated with plasmaphresis.