More about the combination of rituximab, cyclosporine and dexamethasone in the treatment of chronic ITP. A useful option on an environment with limited resources

İmmun Trombositopenili Hastalarda Dörtlü Tedavi

Amaç:İmmün trombositopeni tedavisinde son yıllarda deksametazon, rituksimab ve siklosporin kombinasyon tedavileri umut verici sonuçlar vermiştir. Bu çalışmada, immün trombositopenide verilen kombinasyon tedavilerinin eltrombopag ile birleştirilmesiyle oluşturulan dörtlü tedavinin hastalardaki yanıtlarının araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem:İmmun trombositopeni tanısı almış birinci basamak tedavide steroid, 2.basamak tedavide eltrombopag alan, tam ya da kısmı remisyon sağlanamayan 4 hasta retrospektif olarak aldıkları tedavi ve yanıt oranları açısından değerlendirdi. Sonuç:Relaps /refrakter immün trombositopenisi olan hastalar, eltrombopag tedavisine ek olarak oral deksametazon, oral siklosporin ve intravenöz düşük doz rituksimab ile tedavi edildi. Eltrombopag tedavisine 50 mg/gün dozunda devam edildi. Siklosporin için yükleme dozu verilmedi, haftalık kan siklosporin düzeyi toksisite açısından izlendi ve tedavi 200 ile 400 µg/L'lik bir hedef doza titre edildi. Toksisite kaynaklı ölüm, tedaviye bağlı ciddi advers olaylar veya tedaviye uyumsuzluk gözlenmedi. 6 aylık yanıt oranı %75 idi ve tedavi iyi tolere edildi. Hastalarımızdan iki tanesi halen tam yanıtlı olarak tarafımızca takipli iken bir hastamızda 6.aydan sonra relaps olması nedeniyle splenektomi yapılmış olup halen eltrombopag tedavi ile takiplidir. Yanıtsız olan daha önce splenektomili olan hastamıza ise romiplastim tedavisi uygulandı ancak bu tedaviye de yanıt alınamadı. Hasta klinik çalışmaya dahil edildi. Sonuç:Tedaviye dirençli immün trombositopenili hastalarda dörtlü tedavi kombinasyonunun bir tedavi seçeneği olabileceğini gösteren çalışmamız umut vaad etmektedir.

Efficacy and safety of cyclosporine A treatment in autoimmune cytopenias: the experience of two Italian reference centers

Background:

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) show good responses to frontline steroids. About two-third of cases relapse and require second-line treatment, including rituximab, mainly effective in AIHA, and thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) in ITP, while the use of splenectomy progressively decreased due to concerns for infectious/thrombotic complications. For those failing second line, immunosuppressants may be considered.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine treatment in patients with ITP and AIHA.

Design:

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of cyclosporine A (CyA) in ITP (N = 29) and AIHA (N = 10) patients followed at two reference centers in Milan, Italy.

Methods:

Responses were classified as partial [Hb > 10 or at least 2 g/dl increase from baseline, platelets (PLT) > 30 × 10⁹/l with at least doubling from baseline] and complete (Hb > 12 g/dl or PLT > 100 × 10⁹/l) and evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months. Treatment emergent adverse events were also registered.

Results:

The median time from diagnosis to CyA was 35 months (3–293), and patients had required a median of 4 (1–8) previous therapy lines. Median duration of CyA was 28 (2–140) months and responses were achieved in 86% of ITP and 50% of AIHA subjects. Responders could reduce or discontinue concomitant treatment and resolved PLT fluctuations on TPO-RA. CyA was generally well tolerated, and only two serious infectious complications in elderly patients on concomitant steroids suggesting caution in this patient population.

Conclusion:

CyA may be advisable in ITP, which is not well controlled under TPO-RA, and in AIHA failing rituximab, particularly if ineligible in clinical trial.

An escalating treatment strategy for children with severe chronic immune thrombocytopenia: Preliminary report from a single center

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effects of escalating treatment strategy in children with severe chronic immune thrombocytopenia (SCITP).

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Data from children with SCITP who received escalating treatment strategy in our center were collected between June 2017 and August 2019. The escalating strategy included three steps: Step I (six courses of high-dose dexamethasone [HDD]), Step II (HDD combined with low-dose rituximab), and Step III (eltrombopag).

RESULTS

A total of 30 cases (18 males and 12 females) were included, with duration of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) of 20.5 (12.0-96.0) months. After treatment, the remission rate was 36.7% (11/30) and the sustained response (SR) rate was 68.2% (15/22). The distribution (remission rates) from Step I to III was as follows: nine of 30 (33.3%, 3/9); four of 30 (50%, 2/4); 17/30 (29.4%, 5/17), respectively. In eltrombopag (Step III) cases, 47.5% (8/17) maintained a platelet count of ≥50 × 10⁹ /L, 37.5% (3/8) had dose tapering, and 25% (2/8) have successfully discontinued the medication. The number of patients at 12, 24, and 36 months were 30, seven, and two, with a total response and remission rates of 80% (36.7%), 57.1% (28.6%), and 50% (50%), respectively. The total relapse rate was 26.7% (8/30), and three cases from Step II and five cases from Step III.

CONCLUSION

The escalating strategy for children SCITP showed an effective improvement rate with 36.7% remission and 68.2% SR, and 30% could benefit and retain SR from HDD treatment. Combined treatment with eltrombopag can reduce the relapse rate of low-dose rituximab.