A TAMESIDE man has made medical history by becoming the first man in the UK to receive life-saving drug after becoming critically ill with a rare blood disorder.
David Cope was diagnosed earlier this year with Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which causes blood to clot in small blood vessels throughout the body, stopping the flow to major organs.
But the grandad of 19 is recovering after being given an Intravenous (IV) treatment at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) as part of an international clinical trial.
Retired electrician David, 67, splits his time between his home and his caravan in Prestatyn, Wales.
Earlier this year, he noticed he was unable to keep up with his usual daily activities, becoming tired quickly as well as experiencing pains in his chest and head.
The father-of-six said: “I felt run down for a few weeks and my wife suggested I go get checked out but didn’t think much of it.
“The day before I was admitted to hospital, we were taking care of our grandchildren when I started to feel really unwell and my eyesight began to go.
“We decided as a family it was right for me to go to A&E, and it was all systems go from there.”
After David presented at hospital with many symptoms of TTP, he underwent tests and scans confirming the diagnosis.
He was transported to the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which has one of the largest TTP Specialist Centres in the country, looking after around 100 patients from across the region.
Patients experience symptoms including fever, fatigue, headaches, confusion, rashes, bruises and stroke-like symptoms.
The condition is fatal without treatment and can have drastic effects on everyday life.
The standard treatment for TTP is an intensive plasma exchange procedure – removing the existing plasma from the patient with TTP and replacing it with new plasma to help regulate their condition – which is often required for around a week lasting four to five hours a day.
LUHFT is the only site in the UK to offer an international clinical research trial, which reduces the number of exchanges needed, replacing it with an Intravenous treatment that can be given through a small needle in the arm.
David was admitted to the care of Dr Tina Dutt, Consultant Haematologist, TTP Specialist Centre and Haematology Research Lead at LUHFT.
She said: “When Mr Cope arrived on site, he was very unwell and we knew we needed to act quickly.
“He required around-the-clock care and was at one point was placed on a life support machine due to a deterioration in his neurological state.
“I discussed the trial opportunity with David and his family when they arrived, explaining that whatever they decided to do, we would do our best to effectively treat and control the condition.
“So far, we have seen encouraging results with this new treatment and David’s condition has continued to improve.
“Despite presenting with kidney failure, cardiac and neurological problems, David only required two days of plasma exchange and was ready for discharge from ITU after four days.
“This disease and the current standard of care treatment options can take a huge toll on the patient.
“We are committed to delivering research opportunities that can potentially improve patient care and outcomes.
“Mr Cope and his family have engaged with the whole team from the time of arrival, having a positive spirit throughout their journey.
“A rare disease like David’s is not rare for a patient who is living with it, so it’s important that we drive forward research in these areas.”
David’s wife Julie was by his side throughout the process.
Julie said: “The experience was terrifying, we spent days not knowing what was wrong or what was going to happen to David.
“After speaking to David, Dr Dutt and her team spoke to my son and I, to ask us how we felt about David taking part in a clinical trial.
“This was amazing, we felt like we were a really important part of the care David was going to receive.”
Now back home with his family, David is feeling much better with his blood levels continuing to stabilise.
He is currently undergoing treatment and monitoring by teams at LUHFT and is looking forward to getting back to his North Wales caravan, where he plans on spending the summer months with his wife.
David added: “From not knowing what TTP was a few weeks ago, to now surviving and living with it, I can’t thank the team at Liverpool enough for all they did.
“It’s like a family there. I was scared to be facing such an unknown disease, but the team made me feel like I had known them all my life.”