Successful use of eltrombopag without splenectomy in refractory HIV-related immune reconstitution thrombocytopenia

Sequential occurrence of Graves' disease and immune thrombocytopenic purpura as manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an HIV-infected patient

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in HIV-infected patients after initiating antiretroviral therapy usually involves worsening manifestations of overt infectious disease. Here, we describe a sporadic case of a late-diagnosed HIV-positive man who developed Graves' disease as the first noninfectious IRIS followed by immune thrombocytopenic purpura as the second noninfectious IRIS.

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome Associated Thrombocytopenia in a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Rare Hematological Manifestation

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated thrombocytopenia was commonly encountered in the era prior to the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART). With the widespread use of ART, its incidence has significantly declined. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an immune dysregulation phenomenon that reveals itself clinically as paradoxical deterioration after the commencement of ART in HIV infected patients. It has a wide variety of clinical manifestations. However, hematologic involvement is rare. Here, we present a very rare case of IRIS associated thrombocytopenia. With this case we intend to create mindfulness of the possibility of IRIS being one of the explanations for thrombocytopenia. 

Use of eltrombopag for secondary immune thrombocytopenia in clinical practice

Eltrombopag is a second-line treatment in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, its role in secondary ITP is unknown. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in secondary ITP in daily clinical practice. Eighty-seven secondary ITP patients (46 with ITP secondary to autoimmune syndromes, 23 with ITP secondary to a neoplastic disease subtype: lymphoproliferative disorders [LPDs] and 18 with ITP secondary to viral infections) who had been treated with eltrombopag were retrospectively evaluated. Forty-four patients (38%) had a platelet response, including 40 (35%) with complete responses. Median time to platelet response was 15 days (95% confidence interval, 7-28 days), and was longer in the LPD-ITP group. Platelet response rate was significantly lower in the LPD-ITP than in other groups. However, having achieved response, there were no significant differences between the durable response of the groups. Forty-three patients (49·4%) experienced adverse events (mainly grade 1-2), the commonest being hepatobiliary laboratory abnormalities. There were 10 deaths in this case series, all of which were related to pre-existing medical conditions. In routine clinical practice, eltrombopag is effective and well-tolerated in unselected patients with ITP secondary to both immune and infectious disorders. However, the response rate in LPD-ITP is low.

Haematological manifestations of human immune deficiency virus infection

Early in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, infected patients presented to medical attention with striking abnormalities in each of the major blood cell lineages. The reasons for these derangements remain complex and multifactorial. HIV infects multipotent haematopoietic progenitor cells and establish latent cellular reservoirs, disturbs the bone marrow microenvironment and also causes immune dysregulation. These events lead to cytokine imbalances and disruption of other factors required for normal haematopoiesis. Activation of the reticulo-endothelial system can also result in increased blood cell destruction. The deleterious effects of medications, including first and second generation anti-retroviral agents, on haematopoiesis were well documented in the early years of HIV care; in the current era of HIV-care, the advent of newer and less toxic anti-retroviral drugs have had a more beneficial impact on haematopoiesis. Due to impaired regulation of the immune system and potential side effects of one or more anti-retroviral agents, there is also an increase in coagulation abnormalities such as thromboembolism, and less frequently, acquired disorders of coagulation including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, immune thrombocytopenic purpura and acquired inhibitors of coagulation. In this article we review the epidemiology and aetiology of select non-oncological haematological disorders commonly seen in people living with HIV-acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Initial Experience with the Use of Thrombopoetin Receptor Agonists in Patients with Refractory HIV-Associated Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Case Series

HIV-associated immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has decreased in incidence 10-fold since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). For patients with detectable HIV viral loads, first-line treatment approaches involve optimizing HAART followed by standard ITP options used to treat those without HIV infection. In the general population, the thrombopoetin receptor agonists (TRAs), eltrombopag and romiplostim, are effective when used as salvage ITP therapy. In addition, eltrombopag has been used effectively in patients with thrombocytopenia secondary to hepatitis C--a virus seen commonly in HIV-infected patients, especially in those who also have a history of intravenous drug use. There are, however, few reports or studies of TRAs use in those with HIV infection. Herein, we describe 5 cases of refractory HIV-associated ITP managed with TRAs. Although platelet counts improved for all patients, 2 patients succumbed to thromboembolic complications. Our initial experience, as well as our findings from a Medline review, supports the potential utility of TRA as salvage therapy in the treatment of HIV-related ITP; however, we recommend caution in the use of these agents in those who are at highest risk of thrombosis. Additional studies are needed to determine the efficacy and, more importantly, the safety of TRAs in treatment of HIV-associated ITP.