Contemporary treatment of immune thrombocytopenia

Expert Rev Hematol. 2013 Dec;6(6):697-712. doi: 10.1586/17474086.2013.841076. Epub 2013 Oct 2.

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune-mediated disorder and the treatment strategies were directed mainly to suppression of the immune system or to removal of the spleen as a place of thrombocyte destruction. In last years, it was shown that other mechanisms are responsible for development of immune thrombocytopenia: reduced thrombocyte lifespan and ineffective marrow platelet production. New treatment strategies, such as thrombopoietin receptor agonists, were developed to overcome this mechanism. Still there are a difficult minority of patients unresponsive to multiple treatments, whose have severe bleeding and another group of patients with extensive morbidity from therapy, not restricted to steroids. In this review, focused on adult patients, we discuss newer results of therapies and consider newer treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use
  • Biocompatible Materials / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Platelet Count
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin / agonists
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin / metabolism
  • Rituximab
  • Splenectomy
  • Thrombocytopenia / complications
  • Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy*
  • Thrombocytopenia / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin
  • Rituximab
  • Prednisone