Steroid-Refractory Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Responding to Combination Therapy With Eltrombopag and Rituximab

The Roles and Challenges of Advanced Therapies in the Management of Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The management of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is becoming a subject of interest as there appears to be treatment failure and resistance to modern conventional treatment, necessitating a more universal and goal-directed approach to management. Our patient is a 74-year-old male who was diagnosed with ITP six years ago and recently presented to the emergency department (ED) with complaints of melena stools and severe fatigue lasting for two days. Prior to the ED presentation, he had received multiple lines of treatment including splenectomy. On admission, the pathology after splenectomy showed a benign enlarged spleen with a focal area of intraparenchymal hemorrhage/rupture and changes compatible with ITP. He was managed with multiple platelet transfusions, IV methyl prednisone succinate, rituximab, and romiplostim. His platelet counts improved to 47,000, and he was discharged home on oral steroids with outpatient hematology follow-up. However, in a few weeks, his condition deteriorated, and he presented with an increased platelet count and further multiple complaints. Romiplostim was discontinued, and he was continued on prednisone 20 mg daily, after which he improved, and his platelet count reduced to 273,000 on 20 mg prednisone. This case calls attention to the need to review the role of combination therapy in treating refractory ITP and the prevention of complications of thrombocytosis secondary to advanced therapy. Treatment needs to be more streamlined, focused, and goal-directed. Escalation and de-escalation of treatment should be synchronized to prevent adverse complications from overtreating or undertreating.

Eltrombopag Dose Adjustment During Infection-Induced Thrombocytosis in a Patient With Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an immune disorder in which antibodies attack platelets, leading to platelet destruction and increased bleeding risk. Standard treatment is to maintain a platelet count sufficient to mitigate the bleeding risk. First-line therapies include steroids and IV immunoglobulins, and second-line therapy includes thrombopoietin receptor agonists like eltrombopag in combination with other medications (e.g., rituximab) to reduce immune attack. Eltrombopag is a nonpeptide oral thrombopoietin (TPO)-receptor agonist that increases platelet counts by binding to and activating the human TPO receptor. While using eltrombopag, the target platelet count range is usually between 50,000/mm³ and 200,000/mm³, so the dose should be adjusted accordingly. However, this dose adjustment is based on platelet count increments in response to eltrombopag administration. Adjusting the dose when the platelet count is elevated due to a different factor can be challenging. Data are not yet available on whether stopping the treatment or reducing the dose will harm the patient or result in an acute drop in platelet count and increased bleeding. We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with ITP on a stable eltrombopag regimen who completed an eltrombopag-free period after developing infection-induced thrombocytosis.