Treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura: focus on eltrombopag

A review of immune thrombocytopenic purpura: focus on the novel thrombopoietin agonists

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by antibody-mediated platelet destruction and decreased platelet production. ITP and its treatments have been recognized to cause diminished quality of life in those afflicted with this illness on levels comparable to other chronic diseases. The disease can be self-limiting, but in adults it often is a chronic process requiring medical intervention to maintain appropriate platelet counts and to reduce bleeding events. Many patients go on to develop disease that is refractory to current interventions. Historically, the aim of treatment has been focused on reducing the amount of antibody-mediated destruction but newer therapies have centered on the decreased platelet production. Two new medications that target production of platelets have recently been USA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the treatment of chronic relapsing ITP. Here, we provide an overview of ITP and a comprehensive review of the newest therapies aimed at the stimulation of platelet production.

New advances in the treatment of adult chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: role of thrombopoietin receptor-stimulating agents

Decades of basic science and clinical research have led to an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the processes underlying thrombopoiesis, and the treatment of chronic ITP. Now, new agents are available to treat ITP in a nonimmunosuppressive fashion. Lessons learned from the clinical trials of recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO) have led to the development of a novel class of compounds: nonimmunogenic agonists of the thrombopoietin receptor. Representing the first nonimmunosuppressive agents to treat chronic refractory ITP in decades, medications such as romiplostim and eltrombopag were recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. These new agents offer physicians a new tool for treating difficult cases of ITP in their medical armamentarium. Additional TPO mimetics are also being developed that show promise in vitro, and await future development.