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Thrombotic microangiopathy

What not to learn from a meta-analysis

A recent meta-analysis concluded that plasma exchange is the most effective intervention for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and that plasma manipulation offers no additional benefit over simple supportive therapy in hemolytic uremic syndrome. These findings must be interpreted with great caution, as response to treatment depends on the underlying disease etiology.

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Acknowledgements

Our work is partially supported by grants from Fondazione ART per la Ricerca sui Trapianti (Milan, Italy), from Fondazione Aiuto Ricerca Malattie Rare (ARMR) and from Istituto Superiore di Sanit. We are greatly indebted to Dr Arrigo Schieppati for the critical reading and editing of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Giuseppe Remuzzi.

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Noris, M., Remuzzi, G. What not to learn from a meta-analysis. Nat Rev Nephrol 5, 186–188 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2009.28

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