Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura of childhood: a problem-oriented review of the management

Cost-consequence model comparing eltrombopag and romiplostim in pediatric patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia

Background

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an auto-immune disorder characterized by enhanced platelet destruction and, subsequently, the potential for increased bleeding. Thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) agonists have recently emerged as promising therapies for ITP patients who are refractory to other treatments. While eltrombopag (EPAG) is the only TPO-R agonist US Food and Drug Administration approved for use in pediatric patients, romiplostin (ROMI) has been used in Phase III clinical studies.

Methods

A cost-consequence model (CCM) was developed to evaluate the costs of EPAG, ROMI, and watch-and-rescue (W&R) in relation to their respective treatment outcomes in previously-treated pediatric chronic ITP (cITP) over a 26-week time horizon. The costs of drugs, administration, routine care, rescue medications, adverse events, and mortality were included. Data on platelet count response rate, bleeding events, and adverse events were derived from all relevant identified Phase III-registered clinical trials, health outcomes were compared via indirect treatment comparison.

Results

The overall estimated cost of EPAG per patient was US$66,550, compared to US$101,056 for ROMI and US$32,720 for W&R. EPAG's lower cost compared to ROMI was largely due to lower drug costs (US$62,202 vs US$84,396), administration costs (US$0 vs US$1,955), and significantly lower costs due to severe bleeding (US$354 vs US$10,191). When assessing cost per severe bleeding event avoided, EPAG was dominant over ROMI (less expensive and more effective). EPAG was again dominant over ROMI when assessing the cost per responder and per bleeding event (any grade). Sensitivity analysis was consistent with the base case findings.

Conclusion

EPAG was the preferred TPO-R agonist to treat cITP when indirectly compared to ROMI, largely driven by its favorable severe bleeding outcomes and lower drug and administration costs.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a 15-year natural history study at the Children's Hospital Rijeka, Croatia

We review a 15-year experience with childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in Croatia. Data confirm that ITP is typically a self-limited bleeding disorder that usually presents with mild symptoms in children between 1 and 10 years of age and affects both sexes equally. At presentation, more than half of the children had platelet counts of <10x10(9)/L. The absence of preceding viral infection and insidious onset of symptoms were significantly associated with development of chronic ITP. In our experience, observation without specific therapy seems to be the optimal approach to a child with ITP.

The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura

The outcome of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is classified as acute or chronic depending on whether platelet count returns to normal. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection increases with age and is independent of gender. We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Chinese children from Northern Taiwan and analyzed the association between H. pylori infection and acute ITP. Our prospective cohort studies found no statistically significant relation between H. pylori infection and acute ITP. There is therefore no indication to screen children with presumed acute ITP for H. pylori infection.