Romiplostim Treatment in Adults with Immune Thrombocytopenia of Varying Duration and Severity

Acta Haematol. 2015;134(4):215-28. doi: 10.1159/000381657.

Abstract

Romiplostim is recommended for the second- and third-line treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We conducted a large, single-arm study (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00508820) with broad entry criteria to evaluate the safety of romiplostim in adult ITP. Patients (n = 407) with ITP lasting 0.03-57.14 years and low platelet counts (median 14.0 × 10 9 /l) or uncontrolled bleeding received romiplostim for up to 4 years. The rates of treatment-related, serious adverse events, serious hemorrhage events, thromboembolic events and fatal events were similar to those reported in previous romiplostim trials (0.2, 0.4, 0.2 and 0.1/100 patient-weeks, respectively). Bone marrow reticulin was observed in 4 patients, but biopsies were not routinely performed so the true incidence of this event cannot be determined. Type I collagen (nonserious, unrelated) was reported in 1 patient who likely had myelodysplastic syndrome. No new class of adverse events was reported. Platelet responses were achieved by >90% of the patients, typically within 1-2 weeks of the initiation of romiplostim treatment. From week 8, median platelet counts were >100 × 10 9 /l; 47% of the patients received rescue medications (the use decreased over time). This study confirms and extends the tolerability/efficacy findings of previous romiplostim clinical studies. It was performed on a large ITP population, which is likely more representative of clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / blood
  • Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / blood
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
  • Receptors, Fc / administration & dosage*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / adverse effects
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Thrombopoietin / administration & dosage*
  • Thrombopoietin / adverse effects
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Receptors, Fc
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Thrombopoietin
  • romiplostim

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00508820