Current and evolving treatment strategies in adult immune thrombocytopenia

Refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) secondary to prior COVID-19 infection requiring a splenectomy

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an uncommon condition resulting from the autoimmune destruction of platelets. A man in his mid-30s, who had received three doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine a year prior, was diagnosed with ITP 3 weeks after contracting COVID-19. Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 induced thrombocytopenia may include bone marrow depletion, coagulation consumption, mutations resulting in cytokine release or molecular mimicry leading to autoimmunity. Initial treatment involved glucocorticoids, but the disease course progressed into glucocorticoid-resistant ITP. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with ITP refractory to intravenous immunoglobulin, thrombopoietin receptor agonist, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, inhibitors of BTK and SYK, and other pharmacological agents. Despite exhaustive medical interventions, bleeding diathesis and platelet counts worsened, so the patient underwent a splenectomy resulting in the resolution of the thrombocytopenia.

Antagonism of the Platelet-Activating Factor Pathway Mitigates Inflammatory Adverse Events Driven by Anti-erythrocyte Antibody Therapy in Mice

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by low platelet counts primarily due to antiplatelet autoantibodies. Anti-D is a donor-derived polyclonal Ab against the rhesus D Ag on erythrocytes used to treat ITP. Unfortunately, adverse inflammatory/hypersensitivity reactions and a Food and Drug Administration-issued black box warning have limited its clinical use. This underscores the imperative to understand the inflammatory pathway associated with anti-erythrocyte Ab-based therapies. TER119 is an erythrocyte-specific Ab with anti-D-like therapeutic activity in murine ITP, while also exhibiting a distinct inflammatory signature involving production of CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL9 but not IFN-γ. Therefore, TER119 has been used to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the adverse inflammatory activity associated with anti-erythrocyte Ab therapy in murine ITP. Prior work has demonstrated that TER119 administration is associated with a dramatic decrease in body temperature and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production. The work presented in the current study demonstrates that inhibiting the highly inflammatory platelet-activating factor (PAF) pathway with PAF receptor antagonists prevents TER119-driven changes in body temperature and inhibits the production of the CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL9 inflammatory cytokines in CD-1 mice. Phagocytic cells and a functional TER119 Fc region were found to be necessary for TER119-induced body temperature changes and increases in CXCL9 and CCL2. Taken together, this work reveals the novel requirement of the PAF pathway in causing adverse inflammatory activity associated with anti-erythrocyte Ab therapy in a murine model and provides a strategy of mitigating these potential reactions without altering therapeutic activity.

Safety of non‑peptide thrombopoietin receptor agonists in patients with immune thrombocytopenia: A systematic review and meta‑analysis of short‑term double‑blind randomized clinical trials

The aim of the present study was to analyze the safety of non-peptide thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) treatment. All studies reporting adverse events (AEs) in relation to ITP treatment with eltrombopag, avatrombopag, and hetrombopag were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases. RevMan 5.4.1 was used for meta-analysis, heterogeneity and bias analyses. A total of 1,078 patients from seven eligible studies were enrolled. In the enrolled clinical trials, the double-blind period was between 6 weeks and 6 months. The results revealed that the chances of any AEs [relative risk (RR)=1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.51; I²=78%; P=0.26], grade 3/4 AEs (RR=1.07; 95% CI, 0.63-1.80; I²=0%; P=0.81), elevated transaminase levels (RR=1.09; 95% CI, 0.68-1.74; I²=0%; P=0.72), thrombosis (RR=1.92; 95% CI, 0.55-6.66; I²=0%; P=0.31) and cataracts (RR=0.83; 95% CI, 0.38-1.83; I²=0%; P=0.65) were not significantly higher in patients with ITP that received non-peptide TPO-RAs compared with patients with ITP treated with a placebo. The present study indicated that non-peptide TPO-RAs were relatively safe for patients with ITP, at least within 6 months of administration.

Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) Syndrome and Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Rare Overlap in a Postpartum Patient With Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Refractory Thrombocytopenia

A middle-aged female arrived at a tertiary care hospital after a referral from her primary care physician to evaluate a left breast mass found on ultrasound concerning malignancy. The patient was also 27 weeks gestational with monochorionic diamniotic twins. During triage, she was found to have severe hypertension and lab abnormalities concerning HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome and underwent cesarean delivery of the infants. She had a biopsy of the left breast mass post-delivery, later diagnosed as invasive ductal cell carcinoma with spinal metastasis and numerous metastatic pulmonary nodules. Her hospital stay was complicated by a right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, acute subdural hematoma, and disseminated intravascular coagulation with refractory thrombocytopenia resulting in her death.

A Case of Vancomycin-Induced Severe Immune Thrombocytopenia

A male in his 60s presented with left lower extremity fractures following a vehicle accident. Hemoglobin, initially, was 12.4 mmol/L, and platelet count was 235 k/mcl. On day 11 of admission, his platelet count initially dropped to 99 k/mcl, and after recovery it rapidly decreased to 11 k/mcl on day 16 when the INR was 1.3 and aPTT was 32 s, and he continued to have a stable anemia throughout admission. There was no response in platelet count post-transfusion of four units of platelets. Hematology initially evaluated the patient for disseminated intravascular coagulation, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (anti-PF4 antibody was 0.19), and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (PLASMIC score of 4). Vancomycin was administered on days 1-7 for broad spectrum antimicrobial coverage and day 10, again, for concerns of sepsis. Given the temporal association of thrombocytopenia and vancomycin administration, a diagnosis of vancomycin-induced immune thrombocytopenia was established. Vancomycin was discontinued, and 2 doses of 1000 mg/kg of intravenous immunoglobulin 24 h apart were administered with the subsequent resolution of thrombocytopenia.

Evolving treatment modalities for immune thrombocytopenia in adults

The management of patients with relapsed or refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains challenging for hematologists. While there are a multitude of drugs available, it is largely an individualized management based on patient preferences, side effects, previous treatment received, and responses to them, comorbidities and cost associated with the treatment. We hereby review the newer approaches in the treatment of ITP.

Real-world evidence on clinical outcomes in immune thrombocytopenia treated with thrombopoietin receptor agonists

Aim: Eltrombopag and romiplostim are US FDA approved for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia in patients with insufficient response to other treatments. Clinical or real-world data comparing outcomes of the two drugs are limited. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study sought information on bleeding-related episodes (BREs), adverse events (AEs) and other outcomes of eltrombopag or romiplostim treatment in immune thrombocytopenia. Results: Patients receiving eltrombopag experienced significantly reduced BREs, severe BREs, rescue medication use and platelet transfusions. Diarrhea and headache were significantly less frequent in patients receiving eltrombopag; other AEs occurred equally in both groups. Conclusion: There may be a potential advantage for the use of eltrombopag versus romiplostim in the practice settings studied, based on rates of BREs and AEs and rescue medication utilization.

Second-line treatment trends and long-term outcomes of 392 children with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: the French experience over the past 25 years

Childhood chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (cITP) is a rare disease. In severe cases, there is no evidence for the optimal therapeutic strategy. Our aim was to describe the real-life management of non-selected children with cITP at diagnosis. Since 2004, patients less than 18 years old with cITP have been enrolled in the national prospective cohort, OBS'CEREVANCE. From 1990 to 2014, in 29 centres, 392 children were diagnosed with cITP. With a median follow-up of six years (2·0-25), 45% did not need second-line therapy, and 55% (n = 217) received one or more second lines, mainly splenectomy (n = 108), hydroxychloroquine (n = 61), rituximab (n = 61) or azathioprine (n = 40). The overall five-year further second-line treatment-free survival was 56% [95% CI 49·5-64.1]. The use of splenectomy significantly decreased over time. Hydroxychloroquine was administered to children with positive antinuclear antibodies, more frequently older and girls, and reached 55% efficacy. None of the patients died. Ten years after the initial diagnosis, 55% of the 56 followed children had achieved complete remission. Children with cITP do not need second-line treatments in 45% of cases. Basing the treatment decision on the pathophysiological pathways is challenging, as illustrated by ITP patients with positive antinuclear antibodies treated with hydroxychloroquine.

Current Advance in Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists in the Management of Thrombocytopenia Associated With Chronic Liver Disease: Focus on Avatrombopag

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a condition that progresses over time toward advanced disease state which is known as liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis leads to dangerous health problems among people living across the world. One such problem that observed in about 75% of cirrhotic patients is thrombocytopenia; which in turn associated with poor prognosis and recovery from CLD. Beyond these, thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients led to impairment of coagulation cascade and significantly influenced the utilization of effective mechanism in the management of CLD. By nature, treatment of CLD involves invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures; therefore, in the presence of thrombocytopenia implementing these methods put the lives of patients in a critical health problem due to increased risk of bleeding and mortality. Because of these reasons, prophylactic transfusion of platelets is considered to be one of the most effective options that reduce the risk of bleeding in patients with CLD that required to undergo an invasive procedure. Although platelet transfusion presented with significant advantages in facilitating the invasive procedure in patients with CLD, refractoriness with repeated use and various problems associated with its transfusion limit the continuous utilization of this important option. With these challenges and current advance in the knowledge of thrombopoiesis, the development of relatively safe and alternative drugs that enhance the production of platelets by interacting with thrombopoietin receptor agonists provides a promising option to platelet transfusion. The discovery and approval of romiplostim and eltrombopag in August 2008 and November 2008, respectively, for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia paved a way and followed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of 2 potentially advantageous drugs, lusutrombopag, and avatrombopag, in 2018 for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with CLD that required to undergo elective surgery. Therefore, this review aims to assess pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia and its challenges in the management of liver-related issues and, more importantly, gives emphasis to address the potential use of avatrombopag in the treatment of thrombocytopenia underlying CLD, its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as its toxicological profiles by presenting the most commonly reported adverse events in various trials.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150,000 u/L), which is not associated with a systemic illness. ITP is reported in approximately 2 per 100,000 adults. The mean age of diagnosis is 50 years. ITP is more common in females of childbearing age and in pregnancy. In adults, the course is more chronic although spontaneous remission can also occur within months of initial diagnosis. A thorough and timely workup of thrombocytopenia is imperative to rule out other differentials of ITP as it is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Primary care physicians encounter patients who exhibit signs of thrombocytopenia such as petechiae or purpura on a regular basis. A high index of clinical suspicion is required to accurately diagnose ITP and commence the appropriate treatment including glucocorticoids to increase the chances of a favorable prognosis as described by the authors.