A multicenter randomized open-label study of rituximab plus rhTPO vs rituximab in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP

High- vs regular-dose recombinant human thrombopoietin plus cyclosporine A in patients with newly diagnosed non-severe aplastic anemia: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cyclosporine A (CsA) and regular doses of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) can accelerate platelet recovery in patients with non-severe aplastic anemia (NSAA). However, it is unclear whether CsA plus rhTPO at a higher dose can further increase the efficacy.

METHODS

Data from patients with newly diagnosed NSAA, who had been treated with CsA in combination with different doses of rhTPO between February 2021 and August 2021 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, were reviewed. All the enrolled patients had been treated with CsA at 3-5 mg/(kg/d), and patients were further classified into high-dose (with rhTPO 30000U qd × 14 days for 2 months) group or regular-dose (with rhTPO 15000U qd × 7days for 3 months) group. The treatment response and therapy-related adverse events were compared.

RESULTS

36 patients including 16 (44.4%) in the high-dose and 20 (55.6%) in the regular-dose group were enrolled. The baseline characteristics were compatible between the two groups. The platelet counts were significantly higher at 1/3/6 months in the high-dose group (p = 0.028, 0.0063 and p = 0.040, respectively). The high-dose group had a significantly shorter time to platelet transfusion independence ([1 (0.5-6) months vs 2.5 (1-12) months, p = 0.040]). There was no significant difference in overall response and complete response rate between the two groups at 1/3/6/12 months (p > 0.05). Treatment-related morbidities were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Adding a higher dose of rhTPO can further accelerate platelet recovery and platelet transfusion independence in patients with newly diagnosed NSAA.

A practical guide to the management of immune thrombocytopenia co-existing with acute coronary syndrome

Introduction

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) management with co-existing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains challenging as it requires a clinically relevant balance between the risk and outcomes of thrombosis and the risk of bleeding. However, the literature evaluating the treatment approaches in this high-risk population is scarce.

Methods and Results

In this review, we aimed to summarize the available literature on the safety of ITP first- and second-line therapies to provide a practical guide on the management of ITP co-existing with ACS. We recommend holding antithrombotic therapy, including antiplatelet agents and anticoagulation, in severe thrombocytopenia with a platelet count < 30 × 109/L and using a single antiplatelet agent when the platelet count falls between 30 and 50 × 109/L. We provide a stepwise approach according to platelet count and response to initial therapy, starting with corticosteroids, with or without intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with a dose limit of 35 g, followed by thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) to a target platelet count of 200 × 109/L and then rituximab.

Conclusion

Our review may serve as a practical guide for clinicians in the management of ITP co-existing with ACS.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonist and rituximab combination therapy in patients with refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia

The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of this therapy in patients with refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia. It is crucial to develop alternative treatment methods for this patient group in order to achieve better response. This combination therapy combines two different mechanisms of action, which is promising in terms of targeting pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenia. We conducted a retrospective study, which included all patients who were diagnosed with refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia and received TPO-RA and rituximab at the General Hematology Department, Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz, Poland. We assessed the response, time to response and treatment-free remission (TFR). After 1 month of treatment, the complete response (CR1, PLT >100 g/l) was achieved in 62.5% patients, and response (R1, PLT >30 g/l) was achieved in 62.5% patients. The median PLT was 175 × 10 9 /l. Within 1 month of treatment, 87.5% of patients achieved TFR. Adequately, after 6 months, CR6 and R6 was 62.5 and 75%. The median PLT was 182 × 10 9 /l. Treatment-free remission 6 months after completion was in 50% of patients. The study group achieved response to treatment, which suggests that combination of TPO-RA and rituximab is effective and relatively well tolerated. Prospective study on larger group of patients is needed to better evaluate the efficiency and safety of this treatment.

Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) of different dosing regimens for refractory/relapsed primary immune thrombocytopenia: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial and pharmacokinetics study

Recombinant human TPO (rhTPO) is effective for refractory/relapsed primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but optimal dosing regimen remains elusive. In this multicenter, randomized, controlled trial, a total of 282 adult ITP patients (mean age 47.3 years; 82 men) with a platelet count ≤30 × 10⁹/L or >30 × 10⁹/L with active bleeding randomly received a once daily (QD) subcutaneous injection of 7500 U (n = 64) or 15000 U rhTPO for 14 injections, or 15000 U or 30000 U rhTPO once every other day (QOD) for 7 injections. The primary outcomes included change from baseline in platelet count and total response rate (TRR) on day 14. On day 14, the median increase of platelet count from baseline was the highest in the 15000-U QD group (167.5 × 10⁹/L, interquartile range [IQR] 23.0-295.0 × 10⁹/L), followed by the 30000-U QOD group (57.5 × 10⁹/L, IQR 9.0-190.0 × 10⁹/L) (ANCOVA P < .001; P = .266 with baseline count as a covariate). The TRR on day 14 was also the highest in the 15000-U QD group (63.2%), followed by the 30000-U QOD group (59.7%). The rate of grade 3 and above adverse events did not differ among the four groups. There were no new safety concerns. All 4 regimens are safe and well-tolerated. The 30000-U QOD regimen is practically indistinguishable in efficacy to the 15000-U QD regimen.

Efficacy and safety of high dose recombinant human thrombopoietin in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia

The conventional dose of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is 300 U/kg per day, but the clinical reaction rate is not satisfactory. Accordingly, we explored the efficacy and safety of increasing rhTPO dose in the treatment of ITP. A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical data of 105 ITP patients who were divided into two groups, a low-dose group (15 000 U/day) and a high-dose group (30 000 U/day) according to the dose of rhTPO. The total effective rate of the low-dose group and the high-dose group was 31/44 (70.45%) vs. 56/61 (91.80%) (P = .049), and the average time of using rhTPO in the high-dose group was shorter than that in the low-dose group (7 days vs. 10 days, P = .001). On the 7th and 14th day of treatment, the efficacy of the high-dose group was better than that of the low-dose group [45/61 (73.77%) vs. 17/44 (38.64%), P < .001; 55/60 (91.67%) vs. 30/44 (68.18%), P < .05)]. The incidence of treatment related adverse events in the low-dose group and the high-dose group was 6/44 (13.64%) vs. 6/61 (9.84%) (P > .05), which were mild and transient in nature. In our study, high-dose rhTPO had good efficacy and high safety in the treatment of ITP with the efficacy better than low-dose rhTPO especially at day 7.

Primary and secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): Time for a rethink

There are not many publications that provide a holistic view of the management of primary and secondary ITP as a whole, reflecting the similarities and differences between the two. Given the lack of major clinical trials, we believe that comprehensive reviews are much needed to guide the diagnosis and treatment of ITP today. Therefore, our review addresses the contemporary diagnosis and treatment of ITP in adult patients. With respect to primary ITP we especially focus on establishing the management of ITP based on the different and successive lines of treatment. Life-threatening situations, "bridge therapy" to surgery or invasive procedures and refractory ITP are also comprehensively reviewed here. Secondary ITP is studied according to its pathogenesis by establishing three major differential groups: Immune Thrombocytopenia due to Central Defects, Immune Thrombocytopenia due to Blocked Differentiation and Immune Thrombocytopenia due to Defective Peripheral Immune Response. Here we provide an up-to-date snapshot of the current diagnosis and treatment of ITP, including a special interest in addressing rare causes of this disease in our daily clinical practice. The target population of this review is adult patients only and the target audience is medical professionals.

Risk of thrombotic events in immune thrombocytopenia patients treated with thrombopoietic agents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which is a well-known hemorrhagic disorder characterized by low platelet counts, has been shown to be associated with the risk of thrombosis. Thrombopoietic agents (TAs) are extensively used as second-line treatments for ITP, effectively reducing the risk of hemorrhage. However, thrombosis, a potential adverse effect of TAs, raises clinical challenges.

METHODS

The MEDLINE(PubMed), Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant studies, including both single-arm trials and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), without language restrictions.

RESULTS

A total of 17 RCTs comprising 2,105 patients and 29 single-arm trials comprising 3,227 patients were included. In the single-arm meta-analysis, the pooled rate of overall thrombotic events in ITP patients receiving TAs was 2.2% (95% CI 1.0% - 3.7%). In RCTs, a higher incidence of thrombosis (33/1425 vs. 4/680) and higher risk ratios (RR) of overall, arterial, and venous thrombotic events (1.73, 95% CI [0.88, 3.39], P = 0.113; RR 1.98, 95% CI [0.80, 4.92], P = 0.141; RR 1.06, 95% CI [0.46, 2.41], P = 0.895, respectively) were observed in the TAs group than in the control group, although the differences were not significant. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that hetrombopag was the only TA with no increased thrombotic risk (rate 0.3% 95% CI [0.0 - 1.5%]; RR 0.76, 95% CI [0.03, 18.41], P = 0.864) compared to eltrombopag, avatrombopag, romiplostim, and rhTPO. Subgroup analyses also revealed that ITP patients with advanced age (3.7% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.132) or with a thrombotic history (3.0% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.257), and patients who received TAs therapy for a long duration (4.7% vs. 0.1%, P < 0.001) had an increased risk of thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest ITP patients treated with TAs have a nonsignificantly higher risk of overall, arterial, and venous thrombotic events. Furthermore, hetrombopag is the recommended TA to avoid thrombophilia. Patients receiving long-term TAs, as well as elderly ITP patients or those with a history of thrombosis, face an increased thrombotic risk. In general, clinicians should consider potential thrombotic risks, address underlying risk factors, and ensure ongoing monitoring and follow-up when treating ITP patients with TAs.

Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Combination Therapy Consisting of Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Corticosteroids versus Respective Monotherapies in the Treatment of Relapsed ITP in Adults

Objective  In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy, consisting of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and corticosteroids, in comparison to respective monotherapies in the treatment of relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults. Methods  A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted on 205 adult patients with relapsed ITP who received first-line combination therapy or monotherapy in multiple centers across China from January 2010 to December 2022. The study evaluated the patients' clinical characteristics, efficacy, and safety. Results  We found that the proportion of patients with platelet counts in complete response was significantly higher in the combination group (71.83%) compared with the IVIg group (43.48%) and the corticosteroids group (23.08%). The mean PLT _max in the combination group (178 × 10 ⁹ /L) was significantly higher than that in the IVIg group (109 × 10 ⁹ /L) and the corticosteroids group (76 × 10 ⁹ /L). Additionally, the average time for platelet counts to reach 30 × 10 ⁹ /L, 50 × 10 ⁹ /L, and 100 × 10 ⁹ /L in the combination group was significantly shorter than in the monotherapy groups. The proportion curves for reaching these platelet counts during treatment were also significantly different from those in the monotherapy groups. However, there were no significant differences in the effective rate, clinical characteristics, and adverse events among the three groups. Conclusion  We concluded that combining IVIg and corticosteroids was a more effective and faster treatment for relapsed ITP in adults than using either therapy alone. The findings of this study provided clinical evidence and reference for the use of first-line combination therapy in the treatment of relapsed ITP in adults.

Cost-Effectiveness of Thrombopoietin Mimetics in Patients with Thrombocytopenia: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetics are a potential alternative to platelet transfusion to minimize blood loss in patients with thrombocytopenia. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TPO mimetics, compared with not using TPO mimetics, in adult patients with thrombocytopenia.

METHODS

Eight databases and registries were searched for full economic evaluations (EEs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were synthesized as cost per quality-adjusted life year gained (QALY) or as cost per health outcome (e.g. bleeding event avoided). Included studies were critically appraised using the Philips reporting checklist.

RESULTS

Eighteen evaluations from nine different countries were included, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of TPO mimetics compared with no TPO, watch-and-rescue therapy, the standard of care, rituximab, splenectomy or platelet transfusion. ICERs varied from a dominant strategy (i.e. cost-saving and more effective), to an incremental cost per QALY/health outcome of EUR 25,000-50,000, EUR 75,000-750,000 and EUR > 1 million, to a dominated strategy (cost-increasing and less effective). Few evaluations (n = 2, 10%) addressed the four principal types of uncertainty (methodological, structural, heterogeneity and parameter). Parameter uncertainty was most frequently reported (80%), followed by heterogeneity (45%), structural uncertainty (43%) and methodological uncertainty (28%).

CONCLUSIONS

Cost-effectiveness of TPO mimetics in adult patients with thrombocytopenia ranged from a dominant strategy to a significant incremental cost per QALY/health outcome or a strategy that is clinically inferior and has increased costs. Future validation and tackling the uncertainty of these models with country-specific cost data and up-to-date efficacy and safety data are needed to increase the generalizability.

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.

Re-evaluate the Prognostic Value of Absolute Lymphocyte Count in Pediatric Immune Thrombocytopenia

To re-evaluate the prognostic value of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) from the perspective of age. A total of 242 ITP pediatric patients, including 141 newly diagnosed ITP (nITP), 89 chronic ITP (cITP), and 12 persistent ITP, were retrospectively reviewed for this study. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to age (group 1, ≤24 m; group 2, 24-72 m; and group 3, >72 m). The ALC detected at admission was significantly different between nITP and cITP patients without considering their age difference (5.22 vs. 3.55×10 9 /L, P <0.001). However, no significant difference was discovered after age stratification (≤24 m: 6.52 vs. 5.34×10 9 /L, P =0.161; 24-72 m: 3.78 vs. 3.63×10 9 /L, P =0.748; > 72 m: 2.53 vs. 2.40×10 9 /L, P =0.748). ROC analysis showed that the prognostic value of ALC in ITP children was limited (area under curve (AUC): ≤24 m, 24-72 m, and >72 m were 0.591, 0.570, and 0.542, respectively). Analysis of covariance showed there was no significant difference in ALC between nITP and cITP when considering age as a covariate ( P =0.131). Instead, the ROC showing that platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has prognostic value in pediatric ITP independent of age stratification (≤24 m: AUC, 0.688; 24-72 m: AUC, 0.741; >72 m: AUC, 0.680). In conclusion, there was no significant difference of ALC between nITP and cITP patients when stratified by different age groups, and PLR may be an optional prognostic indicator for ITP.

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.

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.

Current therapeutic strategies and perspectives in refractory ITP: What have we learned recently?

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune bleeding disorder featured by increased platelet destruction and deficient megakaryocyte maturation. First-line treatments include corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and intravenous anti-D immunoglobulin. Second-line treatments consist of rituximab, thrombopoietin receptor agonists and splenectomy. Although most patients benefit from these treatments, an individualized treatment approach is warranted due to the large heterogeneity among ITP patients. In addition, ITP patients may relapse and there remains a subset of patients who become refractory to treatments. The management of these refractory patients is still a challenge. This review aims to summarize emerging therapeutic approaches for refractory ITP in several categories according to their different targets, including macrophages, platelets/megakaryocytes, T cells, B cells, and endothelial cells. Moreover, current management strategies and combination regimens of refractory ITP are also discussed.

Single-dose versus low-dose rituximab in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP: A multicenter, randomized, controlled study

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder, in which rituximab (RTX) induces the best long-term effect among recommended second-line treatments. Nevertheless, the optimal regimen of RTX remains unclear. We herein conducted a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of RTX at two different dosage regimens in patients with corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP. Recruited patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either RTX at a repeated low dose (100 mg weekly for 4 weeks, LD-RTX) or at a single dose (375 mg/m² , S-RTX). Overall response was achieved in 64.3% of patients who received LD-RTX versus 67.4% of those receiving S-RTX (p = .759). The complete response (CR) rate was 23.8% after LD-RTX and 28.3% after S-RTX (p = .635). In health-related quality of life, S-RTX improved patients' psychological status, quality of life, social activities, and work compared with LD-RTX. Furthermore, S-RTX significantly reduced physician visits without compromising efficacy. Our findings demonstrate that a S-RTX is comparable to LD-RTX in effectiveness and safety for treatment of corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP. The single-dosage regimen optimizes the use of medical resources, improves the cost-effectiveness of RTX, and represents a promising and more convenient replacement for LD-RTX in ITP. This study has been completed and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03258866.

Refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): current clinical challenges and therapeutic perspectives

Chronic primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) can today benefit from multiple therapeutic approaches with proven clinical efficacy, including rituximab, thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA), and splenectomy. However, some ITP patients are unresponsive to multiple lines of therapy with prolonged and severe thrombocytopenia. The diagnosis of refractory ITP is mainly performed by exclusion of other disorders and is based on the clinician's expertise. However, it significantly increases the risk of drug-related toxicity and of bleedings, including life-threatening events. The management of refractory ITP remains a major clinical challenge. Here, we provide an overview of the currently available treatment options, and we discuss the emerging rationale of new therapeutic approaches and their strategic combination. Particularly, combination strategies may target multiple pathogenetic mechanisms and trigger additive or synergistic effects. A series of best practices arising both from published studies and from real-life clinical experience is also included, aiming to optimize the management of refractory ITP.

Comparative efficacy of 19 drug therapies for patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a multiple-treatments network meta-analysis

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common clinical bleeding disorder with a high mortality rate and poor long-term survival quality in severe patients. There is controversy on how to choose the appropriate treatment. We systematically reviewed 19 randomized controlled trials (including 2615 participants) from January 1, 2015, to April 20, 2021. These investigations compared multiple drugs or their combinations in the therapeutic dose range for the treatment of ITP. The primary endpoint was based on the proportion of patients who responded to these therapies. The efficacy of eltrombopag plus rituximab, avatrombopag, dexamethasone plus anti-HP, and dexamethasone plus rhTPO was significantly higher than placebo (OR: 46.66, 29.44, 2.66, 1.86) or dexamethasone alone (OR: 46.22, 29.01, 2.22, 1.40). Placebo, oral immunosuppressants, and dexamethasone plus oseltamivir were less effective than the other ITP therapies tested. Eltrombopag plus rituximab may be the best choice when starting treatment for 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.

Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin Accelerates the Recovery of Platelet in Patients With Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Aim

The effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) is largely unknown in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (LR-MDS). This study aimed at investigating the safety and efficacy of rhTPO in patients with LR-MDS.

Methods

LR-MDS patients receiving stanozolol (2 mg, t.i.d.) and supportive care alone (non-rhTPO) or additional rhTPO were enrolled in this study prospectively. rhTPO was given at 15,000 U (q.d.) for 7 days/month for at least 3 months. Patients stopped rhTPO if the platelet count was higher than 50 × 10⁹/L or had no effects after 3 months of treatment. The overall response (OR), complete response (CR), platelet response, side effects, clone evolution, and clinical outcome were evaluated.

Result

Thirty-five patients were enrolled: 20 (57.1%) patients in the rhTPO group and 15 (42.9%) patients in the non-rhTPO group. The demographic and baseline characteristics were balanced between the two groups. Platelet response was higher at 1 and 2 months as compared with that in the non-rhTPO group (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively). Meanwhile, the rhTPO group had a shorter time to achieve a platelet transfusion-free state compared with the non-rhTPO group (p = 0.034). Hematologic response was higher at 1 and 2 months compared with that in the non-rhTPO group (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the overall response or complete response at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months between the two groups. One patient in the rhTPO group evolved into higher-risk MDS at 9 months. No significant difference in disease progression, infection, gastrointestinal disorders, or drug-related liver/renal injuries was found between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Adding short-term rhTPO can accelerate the early platelet response and decrease platelet transfusion, with no obvious side effects.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04324060?cond=NCT04324060&draw=2, identifier NCT04324060

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.

Recombinant human thrombopoietin improved platelet engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Background

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) for hematopoietic reconstitution after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).

Method

Thirty‐five cases with NDMM had been enrolled into a prospective clinical trial from March 2014. The hematopoietic reconstitution was compared between these 35 cases (rhTPO group) and 98 historic cases not receiving rhTPO (control group) after stem cell reinfusion.

Results

Thirty‐five (100%) cases receiving rhTPO achieved both neutrophil and platelet engraftment within 30 days post‐transplant. The median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was the 10^th day and 11^th day after stem cell reinfusion, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that rhTPO administration was an independent factor for accelerating platelet engraftment (HR 2.013, 95% CI 1.336–3.034, p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that rhTPO improved platelet engraftment and alleviated platelet transfusion needs in patients with inadequate re‐infused CD34⁺ cell counts of <2 × 10⁹/L. All the 35 patients tolerated rhTPO well. Survival analysis showed no decrease in time to progression (TTP) or overall survival (OS) by rhTPO administration.

Conclusion

rhTPO accelerated the platelet engraftment after ASCT in patients with NDMM with good tolerability and long‐term safety, especially for those patients with poor CD34⁺ cell reinfusion. rhTPO might be recommended to be used early after ASCT for patients with NDMM.

All-trans retinoic acid plus high-dose dexamethasone as first-line treatment for patients with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia: a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

High-dose dexamethasone is the standard initial treatment for patients with immune thrombocytopenia, but many patients still relapse and require further treatments. All-trans retinoic acid has been shown to exert immunomodulatory effects and promote thrombopoiesis, and so we aimed to assess the activity and safety of all-trans retinoic acid plus high-dose dexamethasone as a first-line treatment for newly diagnosed patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

METHODS

This multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial was done at six different tertiary medical centres in China. Eligible participants were adults (aged >18 years) with treatment-naive, newly diagnosed, primary immune thrombocytopenia who had either a platelet count of less than 30 × 10⁹ platelets per L or a platelet count of less than 50 × 10⁹ platelets per L and clinically significant bleeding. We randomly assigned (1:1) participants to receive either all-trans retinoic acid (10 mg orally twice daily for 12 weeks) plus high-dose dexamethasone (40 mg/day intravenously for 4 consecutive days) or high-dose dexamethasone alone using a central, web-based randomisation system. If patients did not respond by day 14, the 4-day course of dexamethasone was repeated. The primary endpoint was 6-month sustained response, defined as the maintenance of a platelet count of at least 30 × 10⁹ platelets per L and at least 2-times higher than the baseline count and the absence of bleeding, with no need for rescue medication at this time. The primary endpoint was analysed by intention-to-treat and safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of the study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04217148, and is now completed.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, 132 patients were randomly assigned to either all-trans retinoic acid plus high-dose dexamethasone (n=66) or high-dose dexamethasone alone (n=66). Three patients did not receive their allocated treatment, leaving 129 in the safety analysis set. At 6 months, a significantly higher proportion of participants in the all-trans retinoic acid plus high-dose dexamethasone group (45 [68%] of 66) than in the high-dose dexamethasone monotherapy group (27 [41%] of 66) had a sustained response (OR 3·095, 95% CI 1·516-6·318; p=0·0017). The most common adverse events were dry skin (31 [48%] of 64 patients), headaches (12 [19%]), and insomnia (12 [19%]) in the combination group, and insomnia (ten [15%] of 65 patients) and anxiety or mood disorders (eight [12%]) in the monotherapy group. Both treatments were well tolerated and no grade 4 or worse adverse events occurred. There were no treatment-related deaths.

INTERPRETATION

The combination of all-trans retinoic acid and high-dose dexamethasone was safe and active in newly diagnosed patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia, providing a sustained response. This regimen represents a potential first-line treatment in this setting, but further studies are needed to validate its efficacy and safety.

FUNDING

The Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, the National Key Research and Development Program of China, and the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

A multicentre double-blind, double-dummy, randomised study of recombinant human thrombopoietin versus eltrombopag in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia in Chinese adult patients

We performed a double-blind, double-dummy controlled study to compare the efficacy between recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) and eltrombopag in rapidly increasing the platelet counts in Chinese patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 96 patients diagnosed with ITP for ≥6 months who had baseline platelet counts of <30 × 10⁹ /l were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive eltrombopag 25 mg/day or rhTPO 300 u/kg for 2 weeks. Compared with the eltrombopag group, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the rhTPO group achieved platelet counts of ≥50 × 10⁹ /l [75·00% (36/48) vs. 43·75% (21/48), P = 0·003] or complete response (64·58% vs. 25·00%) on day 15. Moreover, a higher proportion of patients in the rhTPO group either had platelet counts that rapidly increased to twice that of baseline and with platelet counts of ≥30 × 10⁹ /l, or reached ≥50 × 10⁹ /l at least once when analysed on day 9, 12, and 15. However, upon discontinuation of the treatment, the platelet counts reduced to the baseline within 1 week in the rhTPO group, but on the fourth week in the eltrombopag group. Adverse events were similar in patients given rhTPO and eltrombopag. To conclude, rhTPO is superior to eltrombopag at 25 mg/day in rapidly increasing platelet counts in patients with ITP (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03771378).

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists in Adults With Thrombocytopenia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) play a crucial role in stimulating thrombopoiesis. However, conventional meta-analyses have shown inconsistent results regarding the efficacy of thrombopoietin receptor agonists versus placebo. Therefore, we performed a network meta-analysis to assess the effects of five TPO-RAs via indirect comparison. For this network meta-analysis, we considered randomized trials that included any of the following interventions: avatrombopag, lusutrombopag, eltrombopag, romiplostim, recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO). We searched the Medline, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for randomized controlled clinical trials from inception to January 31, 2021. We use randomized controlled clinical trials of TPO-RAs for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia in adults. The primary outcome was the number of patients achieving platelet response which was defined as the achievement of a platelet count of more than 30 or 50 cells × 10⁹/L in the absence of rescue therapy, and the secondary outcome was the therapy-related serious adverse events and incidence of bleeding episodes. To obtain the estimates of efficacy and safety outcomes, we performed a random-effects network meta-analysis. These estimates were presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. We use surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities to rank the comparative effects and safety of all drugs against the placebo. In total, 2,207 patients were analyzed in 20 clinical trials. All preparations improved the point estimates of platelet response when compared with the placebo. Avatrombopag and lusutrombopag had the best platelet response compared to the placebo, the former had a non-significant advantage compared to the latter [odds ratio (OR) = 1.91 (95% confidence interval: 0.52, 7.05)]. The treatments were better than eltrombopag, romiplostim, rituximab, and rhTPO + rituximab, with corresponding ORs of 3.10 (1.01, 9.51), 9.96 (2.29, 43.29), 33.09 (8.76, 125.02), and 21.31 (3.78, 119.98) for avatrombopag and 1.62 (0.63, 4.17), 5.21 (1.54, 17.62), 17.34 (5.15, 58.36), and 11.16 (2.16, 57.62) for lusutrombopag. Regarding bleeding, the placebo group had the highest probability of bleeding, whereas lusutrombopag had the lowest risk of bleeding when compared to the placebo. Adverse events were slightly higher in patients receiving rituximab than in those receiving placebo or other treatments. Overall, this meta-analysis showed that avatrombopag may yield the highest efficacy because it has the most favorable balance of benefits and acceptability.

Recombinant human thrombopoietin promotes platelet engraftment after umbilical cord blood transplantation

Delayed platelet engraftment is a common complication after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) accompanied by increased transplant-related complications or death. This study was designed to determine the safety and efficacy of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in promoting platelet engraftment after UCBT. A total of 120 patients scheduled to receive UCBT were randomly assigned to the rhTPO group (300 U/kg once daily from days 14 to 28 after UCBT, n = 60) or the control group (n = 60). The primary outcome was the 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment after single-unit cord blood transplantation. The 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment (platelet count ≥20 × 109/L) and the 120-day cumulative incidence of platelet recovery (platelet count ≥50 × 109/L) were both significantly higher in the rhTPO group than in the control group (83.1% vs 66.7%, P = .020; and 81.4% vs 65.0%, P = .032, respectively). In addition, the number of required platelet infusions was significantly lower in the rhTPO group than in the control group (6 vs 8 units, respectively; P = .026). The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment and the probability of 2-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and graft-versus-host disease-free relapse-free survival did not differ between the 2 groups. Other transplant-related outcomes and complications did not differ between the 2 groups, and no severe adverse effects were observed in patients receiving rhTPO. This study demonstrated that rhTPO is well tolerated in patients and could effectively promote platelet engraftment after UCBT. This study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx) as ChiCTR-IPR-16009357.

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.

Economic Evaluation of Rituximab + Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin vs. Rituximab for the Treatment of Second-Line Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in China

Objective: This study aimed to compare the economic evaluation of recombinant human thrombopoietin+rituximab (rhTPO + RTX) vs. RTX as second-line treatment for adult patients with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura in China. Methods: The Markov model was used in our research. The response rate and relapse rate data were derived from two clinical trials and one retrospective study. Cost and utility values were derived from published literature, a third-party database, and healthcare documents. In addition, one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to observe the stability of the model and data source. Results: In the Markov model, compared with RTX, rhTPO+RTX yielded an additional 0.04 QALYs, with an incremental cost of 2,802 USD. The ICER was 69,097 USD/QALY. According to the results from the one-way sensitivity analysis, complete response of rhTPO+RTX, utility of complete response and response of RTX were the main drivers in the model. The results from the probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that there was a 100% probability that rhTPO+RTX was not cost-effective vs. RTX alone at a threshold of $10,805/QALY and an 84% probability at a threshold of $32,415/QALY. Conclusion: RTX+rhTPO was not more cost-effective than RTX alone as second-line treatment for adult patients with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura in China.

Evolving treatment modalities for immune thrombocytopenia in adults

The management of patients with relapsed or refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains challenging for hematologists. While there are a multitude of drugs available, it is largely an individualized management based on patient preferences, side effects, previous treatment received, and responses to them, comorbidities and cost associated with the treatment. We hereby review the newer approaches in the treatment of ITP.

High-dose dexamethasone plus recombinant human thrombopoietin vs high-dose dexamethasone alone as frontline treatment for newly diagnosed adult primary immune thrombocytopenia: A prospective, multicenter, randomized trial

We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial to compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) plus recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO), vs HD-DXM alone in newly diagnosed adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to receive DXM plus rhTPO or DXM monotherapy. Another 4-day course of DXM was repeated if response was not achieved by day 10 in both arms. One hundred patients in the HD-DXM plus rhTPO arm and 96 patients in the HD-DXM monotherapy arm were included in the full analysis set. So, HD-DXM plus rhTPO resulted in a higher incidence of initial response (89.0% vs 66.7%, P < .001) and complete response (CR, 75.0% vs 42.7%, P < .001) compared with HD-DXM monotherapy. Response rate at 6 months was also higher in the HD-DXM plus rhTPO arm than that in the HD-DXM monotherapy arm (51.0% vs 36.5%, P = .02; sustained CR: 46.0% vs 32.3%, P = .043). Throughout the follow-up period, the overall duration of response was greater in the HD-DXM plus rhTPO arm compared to the HD-DXM monotherapy arm (P = .04), as estimated by the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The study drugs were generally well tolerated. In conclusion, the combination of HD-DXM with rhTPO significantly improved the initial response and yielded favorable SR in newly diagnosed ITP patients, thus could be further validated as a frontline treatment for ITP. This study is registered as clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01734044.

The association between antinuclear antibody and response to rituximab treatment in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia

Background: Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) can be detected in about 30% of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), yet their relationship with treatment response to rituximab remains elusive.Methods: we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of hospitalized adult ITP patients who were treated with rituximab from three medical centers across China. Rituximab was given intravenously at 100 mg weekly for 4 weeks, or at a single dose of 375 mg/m². All included patients had their ANAs tested before rituximab treatment.Results: A total of 287 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were eligible for analysis. ANAs were positive in 98 (34.1%) of the included patients. The incidence of overall response and complete response (CR) in ANA-positive patients was significantly higher than that in ANA-negative patients (overall response: 76.5% vs. 55.0%, P < 0.001; CR: 46.9% vs. 29.1%, P = 0.003). However, sustained response (SR) rates in ANA-positive patients at 6, 12 and 24 months were all lower compared with ANA-negative patients (all P < 0.05). The overall duration of response (DOR) estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis in ANA-negative patients was greater than that in ANA-positive patients (P < 0.001).Conclusion: ITP patients with positive ANA test were likely to achieve a better initial response to rituximab treatment, while their long-term outcome was unfavorable. Therefore, ANA test could be useful for predicting rituximab response in ITP.

American Society of Hematology 2019 guidelines for immune thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND

Despite an increase in the number of therapies available to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), there are minimal data from randomized trials to assist physicians with the management of patients.

OBJECTIVE

These evidence-based guidelines of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) are intended to support patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals in their decisions about the management of ITP.

METHODS

In 2015, ASH formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel that included 8 adult clinical experts, 5 pediatric clinical experts, 2 methodologists with expertise in ITP, and 2 patient representatives. The panel was balanced to minimize potential bias from conflicts of interest. The panel reviewed the ASH 2011 guideline recommendations and prioritized questions. The panel used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, including evidence-to-decision frameworks, to appraise evidence (up to May 2017) and formulate recommendations.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 21 recommendations covering management of ITP in adults and children with newly diagnosed, persistent, and chronic disease refractory to first-line therapy who have non-life-threatening bleeding. Management approaches included: observation, corticosteroids, IV immunoglobulin, anti-D immunoglobulin, rituximab, splenectomy, and thrombopoietin receptor agonists.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a lack of evidence to support strong recommendations for various management approaches. In general, strategies that avoided medication side effects were favored. A large focus was placed on shared decision-making, especially with regard to second-line therapy. Future research should apply standard corticosteroid-dosing regimens, report patient-reported outcomes, and include cost-analysis evaluations.

Prognosis and rescue therapy for sepsis-related severe thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients

Sepsis is the most common critical disease with high mortality in intensive care unit. Platelet count (PC) frequently altered in sepsis patients and implicated in the pathogenesis of multi-organ failure. It is also worth mentioning that thrombocytopenia was closely associated with poor outcomes in sepsis patients. However, whether drug intervention aimed at correcting thrombocytopenia would improve the prognosis of sepsis patients and which kind of sepsis patients could benefit from this therapy is still unclear. This study aims to explore the effect of severe thrombocytopenia on the prognosis of sepsis and the impact of a platelet-elevating drug (recombinant human thrombopoietin, rhTPO) for these sepsis patients. In this study, we included 249 sepsis patients diagnosed by sepsis 3.0, and these patients were classified into the three groups based on PC: normal (PC ≥ 100 × 10⁹/L), mild-moderate thrombocytopenia (50 × 10⁹/L ≤ PC < 100 × 10⁹/L), and severe thrombocytopenia (PC < 50 × 10⁹/L). We found that patients with severe thrombocytopenia had more blood transfusion, shorter days free from organ support, and worse outcomes as compared with the normal group. However, there was no significant difference between normal and mild-moderate thrombocytopenia groups. Furthermore, a subgroup analysis showed that rescue therapy with rhTPO could rapidly lead to a recovery of the PC, prolong days free from organ support, increase survival days, and reduce the 28-day mortality in sepsis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. These results suggested that sepsis patients with severe thrombocytopenia, not mild-moderate thrombocytopenia, had a poorer prognosis. RhTPO, probably as effective rescue therapy, could quickly recover PC and improve the prognosis in these sepsis patients.

[Immune thrombocytopenia: From pathogenesis to treatment]

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disease due to an immune peripheral destruction of platelets and an inappropriate platelet production. The pathogenesis of ITP is now better understood: it involves a humoral immune response which dependents on the stimulation of B cells by specific T cells called T follicular helper cells, leading to their differentiation into plasma cells that produce antiplatelet antibodies thus promoting the phagocytosis of platelets mainly by splenic macrophages. The deciphering of ITP pathogenesis has led to a better understanding of the inefficiency of treatments such as rituximab, although it has not provided yet the determination of biological predictive factor of response to treatments. Moreover, new therapeutic perspectives have been opened in the last few years with the development of molecules targeting Fcγ receptor signalling such as Syk inhibitor, or molecules increasing the clearance of pathogenic autoantibodies such as inhibitors of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn).

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.

Successful treatment of refractory secondary immune thrombocytopenia (antiphospholipid antibody syndrome-associated) with the combination of rituximab and romiplostim at the cost of severe bone pain: A case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Immune thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune disorder associated with increased thrombocyte destruction and impaired production in the bone marrow. Proposed mechanisms include an antibody or autoreactive T-cell-associated autoimmunity and thrombopoietin deficiency among others. Clinical manifestations are predominantly mucocutaneous hemorrhages including petechiae, purpura, mucosal bleeding in the urinary or the gastrointestinal tracts, menorrhagia, and epistaxis. The purpose of the treatment is to prevent bleeding rather than normalizing the platelet counts. First-line treatments include corticosteroids ± intravenous immunoglobulin and Anti-D which mainly decrease antibody-mediated platelet destruction and increase the number of peripheral Tregs. Second-line and subsequent therapies include splenectomy, chimeric anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab), which eliminates B cells and act as an immunomodulatory agent, and Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (romiplostim), which promote platelet production.

CASE REPORT

We describe a 40-year-old male patient diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia that was refractory to first-line corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin and second-line romiplostim monotherapy treatments.Management and outcome: The patient was given the romiplostim and rituximab combination which not only successfully treated thrombocytopenia but also resulted in grade 3 bone pains and the patient's subsequent refusal to continue therapy.

DISCUSSION

Common adverse effects of rituximab are infusion reactions and prolonged immunosuppression; those of romiplostim include thrombosis, headaches, arthralgia-myalgia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. This case shows that romiplostim has not caused any discernible side effects when given alone, while combination with rituximab resulted in severe bone and joint pains. We hypothesize that this combination regimen shows a synergistic effect both in terms of efficacy and adverse-effect probability and/or severity.

Efficacy and Safety of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin on Sepsis Patients With Thrombocytopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

The efficacy and safety of the administration of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in sepsis patients with thrombocytopenia were still inconclusive.

Objectives

To investigate whether rhTPO is a benefit for sepsis patients with thrombocytopenia.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database were electronically searched to the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to March 4, 2020. The primary outcome was the level of platelet (PLT) on the 7^th day of treatment, and secondary outcomes were 28-d mortality, the level of coagulation indicators, hepatic and renal function indicators, blood transfusion, and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

Results

Ten RCTs involving 681 patients were included. For compared with conventional antibiotic therapy, rhTPO could significantly increase platelet counts (PCs) [standardized mean difference (SMD), 2.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-3.94; P < 0.001], decreased 28-d mortality [relative risk (RR), 0.66; 95%CI, 0.46-0.97; P=0.03], transfusion volume of blood products and length of ICU stay. Additionally, for compared with conventional antibiotic therapy combined with intravenous immunoglobulin, the pooled results shown that rhTPO also associated with an improvement of PCs on 7^th of treatment (SMD, 0.86; 95%CI, 0.54-1.17; P < 0.001), and a reduced transfusion volume of blood products. However, there were no differences in 28-d mortality and the length of ICU stay.

Conclusions

Current evidence shown that rhTPO could increase PCs on 7^th day of treatment and reduce the transfusion volume of blood products in sepsis-related thrombocytopenia during hospitalization. The conclusions are needed to be verified indeed by more multicenter RCTs due to the limitation of the included studies.

Report of a 'consensus' on the lines of therapy for primary immune thrombocytopenia in adults, promoted by the Italian Gruppo di Studio delle Piastrine

Despite the publication in 2009 of a paper on 'terms and definitions of immune thrombocytopenia' (ITP), some unresolved issues remain and are reflected by the disagreement in the treatment suggested for primary ITP in adults. Considering that these disagreements could be ascribed to non-shared goals, we generated a 'consensus' on some terms, definitions, and assertions useful for classifying the different lines of treatment for primary ITP in adults according to their indications and goals. Agreement on the appropriateness of the single assertions was obtained by consensus for the following indicators: 1. classification of four 'lines of therapy'; 2. acceptance of the expression 'sequences of disease' for the indications of the respective four lines of treatment; 3_I . practicability of splenectomy; 3_Ib . acceptance, with only some exceptions, of a 'timing for elective splenectomy of 12 months'; and 4_a-d . 'goals of the four lines of therapy.' On the basis of the consensus, a classification of four lines of treatment for primary ITP in adults was produced. In our opinion, this classification, whose validity is not influenced by the recently published new guidelines of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and reviews, could reduce the disagreement that still exists regarding the treatment of the disease.

Rituximab for desensitization during HLA-mismatched stem cell transplantation in patients with a positive donor-specific anti-HLA antibody

To define the efficacy of a single dose of 375 mg/m² rituximab for DSA-positive patients with 2000 ≤ MFI < 10,000, we enrolled a prospective clinical cohort including patients with positive DSA treated with rituximab (n = 55, cohort A), a matched-pair cohort including cases with negative DSA (n = 110, cohort B) and a historical cohort including subjects with 2000 ≤ MFI < 10,000 without receiving any treatment for DSA (n = 22, cohort C). The incidences of primary poor graft function (PGF) in cohort A and cohort B were 5% and 1% (P = 0.076), respectively, both of which were lower than that in cohort C (27%, P < 0.001, for all). Rituximab was associated with a reduced incidence of primary PGF (HR 0.200, P = 0.023). The 3-year nonrelapse mortality of patients in cohort A and cohort B were 23% and 24%, respectively, both of which were lower than that in the cohort C (37%), although no statistical significance was observed. These results led to a low 3-year overall survival in patients in the cohort C (58%) compared with those in the cohort A (71%) and the cohort B (73%). We suggest that a single dose of rituximab could be effectively used to prevent the onset of primary PGF. The prospective cohort of this study is registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn/ChiCTR-OPC-15006672.

A Pilot Study on the Effect of Anti-Thrombopoietin Antibody on Platelet Count in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Thrombopoietin (THPO) is a circulatory cytokine that plays an important role in platelet production. The presence of anti-THPO antibody relates to thrombocytopenia and is rarely seen in hematopoietic and autoimmune diseases. To date, there had been no reports that focused on the anti-THPO antibody in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To evaluate prevalence of the anti-THPO antibody in patients with T2DM and the relationship between anti-THPO antibody and platelet count, a cross-sectional study was performed on 82 patients with T2DM. The anti-THPO antibody was measured by ELISA using preserved sera and detected in 13 patients. The average platelet count was significantly lower in patients with the anti-THPO antibody than in those without the anti-THPO antibody. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed a significant relationship between the anti-THPO antibody and platelet count, after adjusting for other variables. To our best knowledge, this was the first report on the effect of the anti-THPO antibody on platelet count in patients with T2DM. Further investigation is needed to validate the prevalence and pathological significance of the anti-THPO antibody in patients with T2DM.

Identifying and treating refractory ITP: difficulty in diagnosis and role of combination treatment

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common acquired thrombocytopenia after chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. Existing guidelines describe the management and treatment of most patients who, overall, do well, even if they present with chronic disease, and they are usually not at a high risk for bleeding; however, a small percentage of patients is refractory and difficult to manage. Patients classified as refractory have a diagnosis that is not really ITP or have disease that is difficult to manage. ITP is a diagnosis of exclusion; no specific tests exist to confirm the diagnosis. Response to treatment is the only affirmative confirmation of diagnosis. However, refractory patients do not respond to front-line or other treatments; thus, no confirmation of diagnosis exists. The first section of this review carefully evaluates the diagnostic considerations in patients with refractory ITP. The second section describes combination treatment for refractory cases of ITP. The reported combinations are divided into the era before thrombopoietin (TPO) and rituximab and the current era. Current therapy appears to have increased effectiveness. However, the definition of refractory, if it includes insufficient response to TPO agents, describes a group with more severe and difficult-to-treat disease. The biology of refractory ITP is largely unexplored and includes oligoclonality, lymphocyte pumps, and other possibilities. Newer treatments, especially rapamycin, fostamatinib, FcRn, and BTK inhibitors, may be useful components of future therapy given their mechanisms of action; however, TPO agents, notwithstanding failure as monotherapy, appear to be critical components. In summary, refractory ITP is a complicated entity in which a precise specific diagnosis is as important as the development of effective combination treatments.

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) Is Associated with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Recurrence: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND Current guidelines are inadequate for use in predicting ITP recurrence. Therefore, our primary goal in this study was to investigate the association of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) at diagnosis with ITP recurrence in Chinese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a historical cohort study and non-selectively enrolled 233 patients with newly-identified ITP from March 2013 to June 2017. The independent variable was PLR recorded at diagnosis and the dependent variable was recurrence-free survival (RFS) at 6 months. Data on the following variables were also collected for establishing a multivariate Cox regression model: demographic details, general details, and variables found to be closely related to PLR in previous studies, as well as risk factors for ITP recurrence. RESULTS During follow-up, 85 patients had an event within 6 months. At the range of 0.86-9.7 of PLR, a 1-unit increase in PLR was associated with a 13% decrease in ITP recurrence (hazard ratio: 0.87; 95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.97), whereas no association was detected at the range of 9.7-33.75 of PLR (hazard ratio: 0.99; 95% confidence interval: 0.95-1.04). An interaction test indicated that patients with HP infection (0.91 (0.86-1.97)) or diabetes history (0.86 (0.78-0.96)) showed a stronger association compared with patients without HP infection (1.01 (0.95-1.04) and those without diabetes (1.01 (0.97-1.04)). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that PLR is a useful parameter to consider when hematologists attempt to assess the risk of recurrence in ITP patients receiving first-line therapy, and the nonlinearity of PLR and ITP recurrence risk must be fully considered when constructing predictive models.

Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio and Glucocorticoid Resistance in Newly Diagnosed Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

In China, evidence regarding to the association between platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in participants with primary newly identified immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is limited. We aimed to investigate whether PLR is independently linked with GC-resistant ITP.

Material/Methods

We non-selectively and consecutively collected 154 newly diagnosed ITPs. The start enrollment time and the end enrollment time were from March 2013 to June 2017. The independent and dependent variables were PLR measured at diagnosis and GC non-response. Other variables involved in the present work can be summarized as demographic data and factors that were correlated with PLR reported by published studies. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression model and sensitivity analysis were used to evaluate the associations between PLR and GC resistance.

Results

After adjusting covariates, PLR level was negatively associated with GC non-response [odds ratio (OR)=0.89, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.80 to 0.98], and supported by propensity score matching model (OR=0.74, 95%CI: 0.57 to 0.96]. Nonlinearity of PLR and GC resistance was observed whose inflection point was 5.08 (by 2-piecewise model). The OR and 95%CI on both sides of inflection point were 3.14 (0.81 to 12.21) and 0.81 (0.69 to 0.95), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed no significant differences from subgroups.

Conclusions

Threshold effect on PLR and GC resistance is observed. When PLR is larger than 5.08, a unit increase of PLR is independently associated with 19% reduction of GC resistance.

The effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on sepsis patients with acute severe thrombocytopenia: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RESCUE trial)

Background

Sepsis is still a common critical disease with high morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit. Despite published guidelines for sepsis, development of antibiotic therapy and advanced organ support technologies, the mortality of sepsis patients is still 25% or more. It is necessary to distinguish the subtypes of sepsis, and the targeted therapy for the patients need to be explored. Platelets have various biological functions in hemostasis and thrombosis, host defense, inflammatory/immune responses and tissue repair/regeneration. Moreover, severe thrombocytopenia or sustained thrombocytopenia was closely associated with multiply organ dysfunction and higher mortality in sepsis patients. The clinical therapies for thrombocytopenia are platelet transfusion and platelet-elevating drugs. However, platelet transfusion has many defects in clinical practice in sepsis patients, and the impact of platelet-elevating drugs for sepsis patients is still unclear. RESCUE trial is aim to explore the effect of a platelet-elevating drug, recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO), as an effective rescue therapy on sepsis patients with acute severe thrombocytopenia.

Methods

It is a randomized, open-label, multi-center, controlled trial in 5 tertiary academic hospitals including medical, surgical or general ICUs. In this study, a total of 200 sepsis patients with severe thrombocytopenia will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the control and rhTPO group. The patients will be followed up to 28 days after randomization. All patients in two groups receive the same treatment based on the guideline of Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Primary outcome is 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes are the changes of PCs, blood transfusion, biomarkers of infection and organ function, days free from advanced organ support, drug-related adverse events, the length of ICU and hospital stay.

Discussion

RESCUE trial is the first randomized controlled trial to explore the impact of rhTPO for severe thrombocytopenia in sepsis patients diagnosed by sepsis-3.0 standard. Furthermore, RESCUE trial results will be of significant clinical value on the targeted therapy and add clinical evidence that rhTPO is an effective rescue therapy for these sepsis patients.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02707497. Registered Date: March 3rd, 2016. Protocol Version 3. Protocol Date: January 25th, 2019.

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

Persistent immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients require second-line treatments, for which information on clinical outcomes are lacking. A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted. Only randomised controlled trials (RCT) of second-line drugs in adult persistent ITP patients with platelet response, platelet count, any bleeding or serious adverse events (SAE) outcome were eligible. Twelve RCTs (n = 1313) were included in NMA. For platelet response outcome, eltrombopag and romiplostin were the best relative to placebo; the former had a non-significant advantage [risk ratio (RR) = 1·10 (95% confidence interval: 0·46, 2·67)]. Both treatments were superior to rituximab and recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO)+rituximab, with corresponding RRs of 4·56 (1·89, 10·96) and 4·18 (1·21, 14·49) for eltrombopag; 4·13 (1·56, 10·94) and 3·79 (1·02, 14·09) for romiplostim. For platelet count, romiplostim ranked highest, followed by eltrombopag, rhTPO+rituximab, and rituximab. For bleeding, rituximab had lowest risk, followed by eltrombopag and romiplostim. For SAEs, rhTPO+rituximab had highest risk, followed by rituximab, eltrombopag and romiplostim. From clustered ranking, romiplostim had the best balance between short-term efficacy and SAEs, followed by eltrombopag. In conclusion, romiplostim and eltrombopag may yield high efficacy and safety. Rituximab may not be beneficial due to lower efficacy and higher complications compared with the thrombopoietin receptor agonists. RCTs with long-term clinical outcomes are required.