Thrombopoietin receptor agonists as second-line therapy in splenectomy-eligible persistent immune thrombocytopenia: a case series

Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2019 Sep;30(6):295-299. doi: 10.1097/MBC.0000000000000833.

Abstract

: Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) are currently approved to treat chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) but there is increasing interest in considering these drugs earlier during the course of the disease. We present six patients with primary ITP resistant to corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins, who received TPO-RA in the persistent phase and then underwent splenectomy in the chronic phase. Eltrombopag was administered as a second-line therapy in four patients, whereas two patients received romiplostim. Five out of six patients rapidly reached response or complete response (four and one, respectively) and steroid suspension. In one case, remission was obtained with steroid and TPO-RA. No significant side effects were reported. After splenectomy, complete response and response was reached in four and two patients, respectively. One relapse was recorded, rescued by steroid and eltrombopag. Postsplenectomy complication was registered in one patient (grade 4 intra-abdominal bleeding). TPO-RA could be a valuable choice in ITP patients in persistent phase candidates to splenectomy.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / pharmacology
  • Benzoates / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Drug Resistance
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrazines / therapeutic use*
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / surgery
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, Fc / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin / agonists*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Splenectomy
  • Thrombopoietin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Benzoates
  • Hydrazines
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptors, Fc
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Thrombopoietin
  • romiplostim
  • eltrombopag