Treatment efficacy for adult persistent immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Anti-GPIb/IX autoantibodies are associated with poor response to dexamethasone combined with rituximab therapy in primary immune thrombocytopenia patients

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether anti-glycoproteins (GPs) autoantibodies can be used as predictors of response to high-dose dexamethasone combined with rituximab (DXM-RTX) in the treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. One-hundred twenty-six ITP patients were included and retrospectively analyzed, 66.7% of anti-GPIb/IX and 65.9% of anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies. Results showed that overall response (OR) and complete response (CR) rates of patients without anti-GPIb/IX autoantibodies to DXM-RTX were significantly higher than those with anti-GPIb/IX autoantibodies at 4 weeks (OR: 73.8% vs. 47.6%, CR: 50.0% vs. 26.2%; P < 0.05) and 6 months (OR: 71.4% vs. 45.2%, CR: 42.9% vs. 25.0%; P < .05). Furthermore, patients with anti-GPIb/IX single-positivity exhibited higher resistance to DXM-RTX than patients with anti-GPIIb/IIIa single-positivity at 4 weeks (OR: 37.5% vs. 78.3%; P < .05) and 6 months (OR: 29.2% vs. 78.3%; P < .05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that anti-GPIb/IX autoantibodies and megakaryocytes were associated with the OR rate of patients at both 4 weeks and 6 months, and anti-GPIb/IX autoantibodies at 4 weeks represented the only significant factor affecting OR rate with DXM-RTX (F = 9.128, P  = .003). Therefore, platelet anti-GPIb/IX autoantibodies might predict poor response to DXM-RTX in ITP patients.

Clinical Care Team's Guide for Awareness on Risk Assessment of Eltrombopag Complicating Acute Kidney Injury in Relapsed Immune Thrombocytopenic Patients: A Case Report

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder caused by antigen-specific T cells and antiplatelet autoantibodies that inhibit platelet production in the bone marrow or destroy platelets in the spleen. ITP is a form of autoimmunity and is closely associated with inflammation. Corticosteroids are the first-line therapy for ITP, with a total response rate of 53-80%. However, corticosteroid therapy is associated with significant side effects and is often ineffective in patients with corticosteroid-resistant or -intolerant disease. Eltrombopag has been validated as a second-line option in ITP therapy. Despite several studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of Eltrombopag in immune thrombocytopenia patients, the prevalence of Eltrombopag-induced acute kidney injury has been observed. This case report describes a patient who experienced acute kidney injury during Eltrombopag therapy. A sudden increase in serum creatinine to 6.7 mg/dL and metabolic acidosis occurred after eight weeks of Eltrombopag. The patient's renal failure had worsened, proteinuria was detected, and emergency hemodialysis was initiated. With vigilant kidney function screening and prompt treatment, the patient's renal function improved remarkably following cessation of Eltrombopag and initiation of hemodialysis. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive medication history-taking and vigilant kidney function screening in patients receiving Eltrombopag.

Therapeutic Outcomes of High Dose-Dexamethasone versus Prednisolone + Azathioprine, Rituximab, Eltrombopag, and Romiplostim Strategies in Persistent, Chronic, Refractory, and Relapsed Immune Thrombocytopenia Patients

BACKGROUND

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be managed with several treatment options. However, there is a lack of comparative data on the efficacy of these options in different phases of the disease.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose Dexamethasone (HD-DXM), Prednisolone + Azathioprine, Rituximab, Eltrombopag, and Romiplostim schedules in persistent, chronic refractory or relapsed Egyptian ITP patients with a platelet count ≤30 × 109/L. The primary outcome measure was a sustained increase in platelet counts over 50 × 109/L for an additional 12 months without additional ITP regimens. The study also aimed to identify a suitable treatment regimen with a long remission duration for each phase of ITP.

RESULTS

Prednisolone + Azathioprine was significantly more effective in achieving an overall response in persistent patients than Romiplostim, high-dose Dexamethasone, and Rituximab. (90.9% vs. 66.6, [Odds ratio, OR: 5; confidence interval, CI 95% (0.866-28.86)], 45%, [OR: 0.082, CI 95% (0.015-0.448)] and, 25%, [OR: 30, CI 95% (4.24-211.8)], respectively, p-value < 0.01). Eltrombopag was significantly more effective in achieving a durable response in refractory ITP than HD-DXM, Rituximab, and Prednisolone; (80% compared to 32.2% [OR: 0.119, CI 95% (0.035-0.410)], 22.2% [OR:0.071, CI 95% (0.011-0.455)], and 18.1% [OR: 0.056, CI 95% (0.009-0.342)], respectively, p-value < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Finally, Eltrombopag following HD-DXM showed the highest percentage of patients with complete treatment-free survival times of at least 330 days. These findings could help clinicians choose the most appropriate treatment for their patients with ITP based on the phase of the disease. This trial is registered in clinicaltrials.gov with registration number NCT05861297.

The Outcomes and Adverse Drug Patterns of Immunomodulators and Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists in Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia Egyptian Patients with Hemorrhage Comorbidity

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) treatment has evolved recently. However, none of the treatments have only benefits without drawbacks. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and adverse drug patterns of Eltrombopag, Romiplostim, Prednisolone + Azathioprine, High Dose-dexamethasone (HD-DXM) (control group), and Rituximab in primary ITP Egyptian patients. All patients were initiated with corticosteroids, HD-DXM, as a first-line treatment for the first month immediately following diagnosis. Four hundred sixty-seven ITP patients were randomly assigned to five groups. The outcome measures were judged at baseline, at the end of treatment (6 months), and after an additional 6-month free treatment period. The follow-up period for which relapse is noted was 6 months after the end of treatment. Eltrombopag and Romiplostim resulted in a significantly higher incidence of sustained response than Rituximab, HD-DXM, and Prednisolone + Azathioprine (55.2% and 50.6% vs. 29.2%, 29.1%, and 18%, respectively; p-value < 0.001). More patients on immunomodulators (Prednisolone+ Azathioprine, HD-DXM, and Rituximab) relapsed than those on Romiplostim and Eltrombopag (81.9%, 70.8%, and 70.7% vs. 49.3%, and 44.7%, respectively; p-value < 0.01). We also describe 23 reports of pulmonary hypertension with Prednisolone+ Azathioprine and 13 reports with HD-DXM. The thrombotic events occurred in 16.6% and 13% of patients who received Eltrombopag and Romiplostim treatment, respectively. Most patients had at least one or two risk factors (92.8% of cases). Corticosteroids are effective first-line therapy in primary ITP patients. However, relapse is frequent. Eltrombopag and Romiplostim are safer and more effective than Prednisolone, HD-DXM, and Rituximab. They might be reasonable beneficial options after a one-month HD-DXM regimen.

All-trans retinoic acid added to treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) application is a novel treatment approach for primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ATRA in the treatment of ITP. The databases of PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and China National Knowledge Internet were searched on August 5, 2022, to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Five observational studies and four RCTs from China were included, and 760 Chinese patients were analyzed. In the five observational studies, the pooled overall response rate (ORR) and complete response rate (CRR) were 59.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.4-66.4%) and 20.6% (95% CI, 14.3-27.6%), respectively. In the selected four RCTs, the pooled odds ratios for sustained response rate, ORR, and CRR were 3.00 (95% CI, 1.97-4.57; P < 0.01), 3.21 (95% CI, 2.15-4.78; P < 0.01), and 2.12 (95% CI, 1.17-3.86; P = 0.01), respectively. ATRA was associated with a reduction in relapse rate and salvage treatment rate (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.18-0.50; P < 0.01; 0.36; 95% CI, 0.23-0.56; P < 0.01, respectively). The pooled odds ratios for grade 1-2 dry skin, headache (or dizziness), and rash acneiform were 49.99 (95% CI, 16.05-155.67; P < 0.01), 1.75 (95% CI, 0.98-3.12; P = 0.06), and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.10-1.34; P = 0.13), respectively. This study suggests that ATRA may significantly improve the initial and long-term response of patients with ITP.

Combination of two target agonists of the thrombopoietin and thrombopoietin receptor in the treatment of elderly patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is common in the elderly. Because of the coexistence of multiple diseases, there are many reservations regarding corticosteroid use in the elderly. Thrombopoietin (TPO) and its analogs can promote platelet production, but it is often difficult to correct TP in a short period. Recombinant human TPO (rh-TPO) acting on the cell membrane and the small-molecule TPO-receptor (MPL) agonist acting on the transmembrane receptor may have synergistic effects and accelerate platelet production because of different sites of action in the signaling pathway. In this study, two elderly patients with refractory ITP were successfully treated with two TPO-MPL signaling pathway agonists: recombinant human thrombopoietin (rh-TPO) and eltrombopag. This combination is safe with rapid and lasting effects. However, in elderly patients with refractory, recurrent, and glucocorticoid contraindications, the combination of different TPO agonists' clinical efficacy and adverse reactions needs to be further evaluated.

How we treat primary immune thrombocytopenia in adults

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated bleeding disorder characterized by decreased platelet counts and an increased risk of bleeding. Multiple humoral and cellular immune abnormalities result in accelerated platelet destruction and suppressed platelet production in ITP. The diagnosis remains a clinical exclusion of other causes of thrombocytopenia. Treatment is not required except for patients with active bleeding, severe thrombocytopenia, or cases in need of invasive procedures. Corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and anti-RhD immunoglobulin are the classical initial treatments for newly diagnosed ITP in adults, but these agents generally cannot induce a long-term response in most patients. Subsequent treatments for patients who fail the initial therapy include thrombopoietic agents, rituximab, fostamatinib, splenectomy, and several older immunosuppressive agents. Other potential therapeutic agents, such as inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase and neonatal Fc receptor, are currently under clinical evaluation. An optimized treatment strategy should aim at elevating the platelet counts to a safety level with minimal toxicity and improving patient health-related quality of life, and always needs to be tailored to the patients and disease phases. In this review, we address the concepts of adult ITP diagnosis and management and provide a comprehensive overview of current therapeutic strategies under general and specific situations.

Recombinant Thrombopoietin Effectively Shortens the Time to Response and Increases Platelet Counts in Elderly Patients with Severe Immune Thrombocytopenia

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of rhTPO for the management of severe ITP in the elderly as first-line treatment. Methods: A total of 54 elderly patients with severe ITP were studied, including 39 patients treated with a combination regimen of rhTPO plus standard treatment (glucocorticoid; rhTPO group) and 15 patients treated with glucocorticoid treatment alone (control group). The response rate, time to initial response, peak platelet counts, and time to peak platelet counts were compared, and clinical characteristics correlated with the efficacy of rhTPO were analyzed. The efficacy of rhTPO in the elderly is comparable to the non-elderly in terms of the OR, CR, time to initial response, and peak platelet counts. Results: There were no differences in the overall response (OR) and the complete response (CR) in the rhTPO group compared to the control group. The time to initial response in the rhTPO group was shorter than that in the control group (p = 0.032). In patients without intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and platelet transfusion, the peak platelet counts in the rhTPO group were higher than those in the control group (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Standard glucocorticoid treatment plus rhTPO effectively shortens the time to response and increases platelet counts in the elderly with severe ITP.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists and rituximab for treatment of pediatric immune thrombocytopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may require second-line ITP therapies. The high remission rate in pediatric patients, need for extended-duration use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), drug adherence, potential side effects, monitoring, and cost effectiveness are factors that should be considered in decision-making about second-line therapies. Rituximab (RTX) has been used off-label for years to treat ITP but there are limited studies about its efficacy and safety in children. To date, no studies have directly compared TPO-RAs with RTX for the treatment of childhood ITP.

METHODS

This systematic review analyzed the overall platelet response, durability of treatment effect, and safety for RTX use in comparison to TPO-RAs in pediatric ITP. MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched through December 2020 and meta-analysis was conducted using proportions of success/failure for each intervention in the selected studies.

RESULTS

The proportion of participants achieving the primary endpoint of a platelet response above 50,000 was similar for TPO-RAs (proportion = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.63-0.78) and RTX (proportion = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53-0.82). However, considerable variation was found between the two groups with regards to the sustainability of the response and other secondary outcomes such as need for rescue and adverse events. RTX was associated with higher rates of rescue therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this analysis of prospective pediatric ITP studies, RTX and TPO-RAs had similar rates of overall platelet response but differed in other important measures. Prospective comparative studies are needed to better characterize second-line treatments for pediatric ITP.

All-trans retinoic acid plus low-dose rituximab vs low-dose rituximab in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP

The study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus low-dose rituximab (LD-RTX) with LD-RTX monotherapy in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. Recruited patients were randomized at a ratio of 2:1 into 2 groups: 112 patients received LD-RTX plus ATRA, and 56 patients received LD-RTX monotherapy. Overall response (OR), defined as achieving a platelet count of ≥30 × 109/L confirmed on ≥2 separate occasions (≥7 days apart), at least a doubling of the baseline platelet count without any other ITP-specific treatment, and the absence of bleeding within 1 year after enrollment, was observed in more patients in the LD-RTX plus ATRA group (80%) than in the LD-RTX monotherapy group (59%) (between-group difference, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.07-0.36). Sustained response (SR), defined as maintenance of a platelet count &gt;30 × 109/L, an absence of bleeding, and no requirement for any other ITP-specific treatment for 6 consecutive months after achievement of OR during 1 year following enrollment, was achieved by 68 (61%) patients in the combination group and 23 (41%) patients in the monotherapy group (between-group difference, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04-0.35). The 2 most common adverse events (AEs) for the combination group were dry skin and headache or dizziness. Our findings demonstrated that ATRA plus LD-RTX significantly increased the overall and sustained response, indicating a promising treatment option for corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed adult ITP. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03304288.

Clinical utility of the CD10+/HLA-DR+ population in bone marrow mononuclear cells from adults with immune thrombocytopenia

Several patients with immune thrombocytopenia show good clinical courses without any major complications. However, severe bleeding complications, such as hemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and intracranial hemorrhages, are occasionally observed in some patients associated with marked thrombocytopenia; this results in 1.5-fold higher mortality for such patients compared with the general population. We report here the cases of two patients with immune thrombocytopenia whose bone marrow included a prominent cluster of differentiation (CD)10+/ human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR+ population and showed good response to steroid therapy. Conversely, two other patients without a CD10+/HLA-DR+ population were refractory to steroids, and one of them had a serious course. Retrospective examination of 30 patients with severe immune thrombocytopenia revealed that they had a higher percentage of CD10+/HLA-DR+ cells compared with patients with other benign hematological diseases. As differential diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia and aplastic anemia with severe thrombocytopenia is often difficult, it may be helpful to understand whether CD10+/HLA-DR+ cells are increased. We also show the possible correlation of resistance to steroid therapy and lower percentages of CD10+/HLA-DR+ cells. It has been reported that nonresponsiveness to steroid treatment was a high risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage. Lower percentages of CD10+/HLA-DR+ cells may be a useful tool to identify patients with immune thrombocytopenia at a high risk of serious bleeding complications.

All-trans retinoic acid plus low-dose rituximab vs low-dose rituximab in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP

The study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus low-dose rituximab (LD-RTX) with LD-RTX monotherapy in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. Recruited patients were randomized at a ratio of 2:1 into 2 groups: 112 patients received LD-RTX plus ATRA and 56 patients received LD-RTX monotherapy. Overall response (OR), defined as achieving a platelet count of ≥ 30 × 109/L confirmed on at least two separate occasions (at least 7 days apart), at least a doubling of the baseline platelet count without any other ITP-specific treatment and the absence of bleeding within 1 year after enrollment, was observed in more patients in the LD-RTX plus ATRA group (80%) than in the LD-RTX monotherapy group (59%) (between-group difference, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.36). Sustained response (SR), defined as maintenance of a platelet count > 30 x 109/L, an absence of bleeding, and no requirement for any other ITP-specific treatment for 6 consecutive months after achievement of OR during 1 year following enrollment, was achieved by 68 (61%) patients in the combination group and 23 (41%) patients in the monotherapy group (between-group difference, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.35). The 2 most common AEs for the combination group were dry skin and headache or dizziness. Our findings demonstrated that ATRA plus LD-RTX significantly increased the overall and sustained response, indicating a promising treatment option for corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed adult ITP. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03304288.

Efficacy and Safety of Avatrombopag in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Systematic Literature Review and Network Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag, relative to eltrombopag, romiplostim, and fostamatinib, for patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) not responding adequately to corticosteroids.

METHODS

A systematic search of publication and clinical trial databases was conducted to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Data from eligible studies were extracted and analyzed in a Bayesian framework using relative effect sizes vs placebo. Outcomes included durable platelet response; need for rescue therapy; reduction in use of concomitant ITP medication; incidence of any or World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2-4 bleeding events, and any adverse events. Results were reported as odds ratios or incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% credible intervals (CrIs).

RESULTS

The NMA included seven phase 3 RCTs. Compared with placebo, avatrombopag was associated with statistically significant improvements in durable platelet response, reduction in use of concomitant ITP medication, and incidence of any bleeding events. Statistically significant differences vs placebo were also observed for durable platelet response and need for rescue therapy (eltrombopag, romiplostim, and fostamatinib); reduction in use of concomitant ITP medication (eltrombopag and romiplostim); incidence of any bleeding events (fostamatinib); and incidence of WHO grade 2-4 bleeding events (romiplostim and fostamatinib). No statistically significant differences were observed for any adverse events. Avatrombopag was associated with a statistically significant lower incidence of any bleeding events vs eltrombopag (IRR 0.38 [95% CrI 0.19, 0.75]) and romiplostim (IRR 0.38 [95% Crl 0.17, 0.86]); no other between-treatment differences were observed.

CONCLUSION

In this NMA, avatrombopag significantly increased the chance of achieving durable platelet response and reducing the use of concomitant ITP medication vs placebo, and significantly reduced the incidence of any bleeding events compared with placebo, eltrombopag, and romiplostim. The study aims to help guide clinicians managing patients with chronic ITP and insufficient response to previous treatment.

Update on diagnosis and treatment of immune thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a heterogeneous acquired disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia whose exact pathogenesis is not yet clear. Depending upon the presence or absence of an underlying treatable cause, ITP can be categorized as primary or secondary. Primary ITP is a diagnosis of exclusion and there is no gold standard test for its confirmation. Recent drug intake, infections, lymphoproliferative disorders, and connective tissue disorders should be ruled out before labeling a patient as primary ITP.

AREA COVERED

This review summarizes a comprehensive update on the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for ITP. We reviewed the literature using GOOGLE SCHOLAR, PUBMED and ClinicalTrial.gov databases as needed to support the evidence. We searched the literature using the following keywords: 'immune thrombocytopenia,' 'idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura,' 'thrombocytopenia,' 'immune thrombocytopenic purpura,' and 'isolated thrombocytopenia'.

EXPERT OPINION

We believe that more detailed studies are required to understand the exact pathophysiology behind ITP. The first-line drugs like corticosteroids have both short-term and long-term adverse effects. This brings the need to explore effective alternative medications and to reconsider their role in ITP treatment algorithm if guidelines can be modified based on new studies.

Clinical overview and practical considerations for optimizing romiplostim therapy in patients with immune thrombocytopenia

The fundamental treatment goal for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is reduced or ameliorated bleeding. Although various treatment options exist for the management of ITP, recent advances have led to the approval of three thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs; romiplostim, eltrombopag, and avatrombopag) in the United States and European Union. Current treatment guidelines for ITP indicate that medical therapy is preferred over surgical therapy and support the use of TPO-RAs as early as 3 months after disease onset. More recent data are available on the use of romiplostim in patients who have had ITP for <1 year, and romiplostim is now indicated for the treatment of adults who have not responded adequately to initial treatment, as well as children aged ≥1 year who have had ITP for ≥6 months. Here we review the role of romiplostim in the management of ITP, with a focus on efficacy and safety data, emerging data on early use (beginning within 3 months of disease onset) and treatment-free remission, and practical considerations for optimal management of ITP.

Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: Novel Insights into Pathophysiology and Disease Management

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder defined by a significantly reduced number of platelets in blood circulation. Due to low levels of platelets, ITP is associated with frequent bruising and bleeding. Current evidence suggests that low platelet counts in ITP are the result of multiple factors, including impaired thrombopoiesis and variations in immune response leading to platelet destruction during pathological conditions. Patient outcomes as well as clinic presentation of the disease have largely been shown to be case-specific, hinting towards ITP rather being a group of clinical conditions sharing common symptoms. The most frequent characteristics include dysfunction in primary haemostasis and loss of immune tolerance towards platelet as well as megakaryocyte antigens. This heterogeneity in patient population and characteristics make it challenging for the clinicians to choose appropriate therapeutic regimen. Therefore, it is vital to understand the pathomechanisms behind the disease and to consider various factors including patient age, platelet count levels, co-morbidities and patient preferences before initiating therapy. This review summarizes recent developments in the pathophysiology of ITP and provides a comprehensive overview of current therapeutic strategies as well as potential future drugs for the management of ITP.

Mediterranean Diet Maintained Platelet Count within a Healthy Range and Decreased Thrombocytopenia-Related Mortality Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial

There is little information on the dietary modulation of thrombosis-related risk factors such as platelet count. We aimed to assess the effects of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on platelet count and related outcomes in an older population at high cardiovascular risk. In participants of the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study, we assessed whether an intervention with a MedDiet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, relative to a low-fat control diet, modulated platelet count (n = 4189), the risk of developing thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia (n = 3086), and the association between these alterations and all-cause mortality (median follow-up time: 3.0 years). Although platelet count increased over time (+0.98·109 units/L·year [95% confidence interval: 0.12; 1.84]), MedDiet interventions moderated this increase, particularly in individuals with near-high baseline count (both MedDiets combined: -3.20·109 units/L·year [-5.81; -0.59]). Thrombocytopenia incidence was lower in the MedDiet interventions (incidence rates: 2.23% in control diet, 0.91% in MedDiets combined; hazard ratio: 0.44 [0.23; 0.83]). Finally, thrombocytopenia was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 4.71 [2.69; 8.24]), but this relationship was attenuated in those allocated to MedDiet (p-interaction = 0.018). In brief, MedDiet maintained platelet counts within a healthy range and attenuated platelet-related mortality in older adults at high cardiovascular risk.

New Developments in the Pathophysiology and Management of Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by a significant reduction in the number of circulating platelets and frequently associated with bleeding. Although the pathogenesis of ITP is still not completely elucidated, it is largely recognized that the low platelet count observed in ITP patients is due to multiple alterations of the immune system leading to increased platelet destruction as well as impaired thrombopoiesis. The clinical manifestations and patients' response to different treatments are very heterogeneous suggesting that ITP is a group of disorders sharing common characteristics, namely, loss of immune tolerance toward platelet (and megakaryocyte) antigens and dysfunctional primary hemostasis. Management of ITP is challenging and requires intensive communication between patients and caregivers. The decision to initiate treatment should be based on the platelet count level, age of the patient, bleeding manifestation, and other factors that influence the bleeding risk in individual patients. In this review, we present recent data on the mechanisms that lead to platelet destruction in ITP with a particular focus on current findings concerning alterations of thrombopoiesis. In addition, we give an insight into the efficacy and safety of current therapies and management of ITP bleeding emergencies.

Second-line treatments and outcomes for immune thrombocytopenia: A retrospective study with electronic health records

BACKGROUND

Second-line treatment for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is not well reported for patients treated in real-world clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of four second-line treatments for ITP.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Included adult patients had at least two medical records containing ITP diagnoses and second-line eltrombopag, romiplostim, rituximab, or splenectomy. Date of treatment initiation or splenectomy was set as index date, between July 1, 2008, and March 31, 2017. Patients had first-line corticosteroid or intravenous immune globulin treatment and continuous database activity from 6 months before to 12 months after index. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, platelet counts, bleeding-related episodes (BREs), and thrombotic events (TEs) were compared by second-line treatment cohort.

RESULTS

The sample included 3332 patients (mean age, 60.5 years; 52.3% female): eltrombopag (5.8%), romiplostim (9.9%), rituximab (73.3%), and splenectomy (11.0%). Patients having splenectomy were younger, more likely female and commercially insured, and less likely to require a third line of treatment than medical regimen cohorts. Proportions of patients having treatment-free (≥180 days with no second-line index or rescue agent) periods varied significantly (P = .01) by regimen: 33% for eltrombopag, 23% for romiplostim, 26% for rituximab, and 17% for splenectomy. All regimens significantly improved platelet counts, while TE and BRE rates differed significantly (P = .03 and P = .01, respectively) when all treatment groups were compared.

CONCLUSIONS

Over an average 7-year follow-up, all second-line regimens improved platelet counts, but eltrombopag yielded the highest proportion of patients with completely treatment-free periods of at least 180 days.

Rituximab and immune thrombocytopenia in adults: The state of knowledge 20 years later

Rituximab has been used for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) for almost 20 years and is now considered a valid off-label second-line treatment. About 60% to 70% of patients with ITP show initial response to rituximab, but in half of these patients, the disease will eventually relapse. Therefore, in 30% of patients with persistent or chronic ITP, one course of rituximab at 375 mg/m²/week for 4 weeks or 2 fixed 1000-mg rituximab infusions allows for a sustained response rate at 5 years. Unfortunately, to date, no robust predictor of long-term sustained response has been found to assist the physician in deciding to treat with rituximab on an individual basis, and the choice of rituximab or another second-line treatment must be individualized and shared with the patient. Retreatment with rituximab has been found efficient, with a similar or higher magnitude and duration of response in most patients. Rituximab is usually well tolerated, with mainly mild and easily manageable infusion-related adverse events. Severe infections are uncommon, including in the long-term, and occur in patients with at least another contributing factor in more than two thirds. Several issues remain to be resolved. Indeed, head-to-head comparisons with other and new treatments in ITP and robust predictors of long-term response are urgently needed to better determine the position of rituximab in the therapeutic armamentarium for adult ITP. Additionally, the place of combination therapies, maintenance therapy with rituximab and rituximab in newly-diagnosed ITP deserve additional studies.

Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult critical care patients in China

Thrombocytopenia is a common complication of critical care patients. The rates of bleeding events and mortality are also significantly increased in critical care patients with thrombocytopenia. Therefore, the Critical Care Medicine Committee of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) worked with Chinese Society of Laboratory Medicine, Chinese Medical Association to develop this consensus to provide guidance for clinical practice. The consensus includes five sections and 27 items: the definition of thrombocytopenia, etiology and pathophysiology, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention.