ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges in the management of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The recommendation for avoidance of steroids by WHO led to the off-licence use, supported by NHS England, of thrombopoietin mimetics (TPO-RA) for newly diagnosed or relapsed ITP. This is a real-world prospective study which investigated the treatment patterns and outcomes in this setting. Twenty-four hospitals across the UK submitted 343 cases. Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of ITP treatment, but TPO-RAs were more effective. Incidental COVID-19 infection was identified in a significant number of patients (9·5%), while 14 cases were thought to be secondary to COVID-19 vaccination.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/therapy , Adolescent , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/adverse effects , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Autoimmune Diseases/complications , COVID-19/blood , COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects , Combined Modality Therapy , Comorbidity , Connective Tissue Diseases/complications , Contraindications, Drug , Disease Management , Female , Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Hemorrhage/etiology , Hospitals, District/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/complications , Off-Label Use , Platelet Transfusion , Prospective Studies , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/drug therapy , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/epidemiology , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/etiology , Tertiary Care Centers/statistics & numerical data , Thromboembolism/epidemiology , Thromboembolism/etiology , Thrombopoietin/agonists , Tranexamic Acid/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome , United Kingdom/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
This document aims to provide practical guidance for the assessment and management of patients with thrombocytopenia, with a particular focus on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intention is to support clinicians and, although recommendations have been provided, it is not a formal guideline. Nor is there sufficient evidence base to conclude that alternative approaches to treatment are incorrect. Instead, it is a consensus written by clinicians with an interest in ITP or coagulation disorders and reviewed by members of the UK ITP forum.