Good practice statements (GPS) for the clinical care of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

1. METHODS
Upon setting the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome questions for the guidelines, the panel identified a number of topics that might be well suited to non‐Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Good Practice Statements (GPSs). The McMaster team drafted an initial set of statements for distribution to the panelists before our second in‐person meeting. The panelists reviewed the statements for relevance and accuracy. The GPSs were then revised based on feedbacks that were redistributed to the panelists for further revisions and finalization.

2. COMMENT
The Guidelines panel discussed a number of additional considerations to support good clinical care of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The “GPSs” are not evidence‐based recommendations. Specifically, they are not based on systematic search or formal review of the evidence. These statements are intended to provide a “snapshot” of the care provided to patients with TTP by expert health care providers. They address scenarios in which there is very limited high‐certainty evidence, yet there is a body of indirect evidence and/or clinical experience that suggests the net benefit of certain actions. GPSs are intended to guide health care providers who have limited experience in treating TTP. They should be used with caution; the provider's own clinical judgment, in combination with the individual patient's clinical situation, values, and preferences, should all be considered.

3. SUPPORTIVE CARE
The following statements pertain to initial emergency care and general supportive care of patients with TTP.