Three new ADAMTS13 IMUBIND® ELISA kits are available for research of congenital and acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) and its differentiation from Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
     ADAMTS13 (A Disintegrin-like And Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin-1 repeats) is a zinc metalloproteinase that cleaves von Willebrand Factor (vWF). Ultra-large vWF (ULvWF) multimers are cleaved by ADAMTS13 to provide normal hemostasis. Malfunction of ULvWF proteolysis can lead to pathogenic thrombus formation via binding of ULvWF to platelet receptors and the vascular wall.
     The accumulation of ULvWF, which is seen in TTP patients, is associated with low ADAMTS13 activity due to ADAMTS13 genetic alterations (congenital TTP), the development of ADAMTS13-blocking autoantibodies (acquired TTP), or the development of ADAMTS13-blocking autoantibodies induced by antiplatelet drug therapy (from Clopidogrel or Ticlopidine).
     The correlation of ADAMTS13 with TTP is not fully understood because some patients with TTP exhibit normal levels of ADAMTS13 activity, whereas others with low levels of ADAMTS13 activity do not exhibit TTP symptomology. Also, studies reveal ADAMTS13 forms a complex with plasma factor XI. The function of ADAMTS13/fXI complexes is presently unknown, but altered levels have been found in the plasma of TTP patients.
     The use of IMUBIND ADAMTS13 ELISAs for quantitative measurement of ADAMTS13 antigen, autoantibodies, and ADAMTS13/fXI complexes will provide a better understanding of the biology of TTP, vWF processing, and hemostasis.

American Diagnostica Inc
(203) 602-7777; www.americandiagnostica.com