ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Benzoates/therapeutic use , Hydrazines/therapeutic use , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/drug therapy , Pyrazoles/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Autoimmune Diseases/complications , Benzoates/administration & dosage , Benzoates/adverse effects , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Humans , Hydrazines/administration & dosage , Hydrazines/adverse effects , Lymphoproliferative Disorders/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Count , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/blood , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/etiology , Pyrazoles/administration & dosage , Pyrazoles/adverse effects , Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists , Retrospective Studies , Virus Diseases/complicationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Eltrombopag is effective and safe in chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, clinical trials may not accurately reflect what happens in clinical practice. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in primary chronic ITP in a real-world setting. METHODS: A total of 164 primary patients with chronic ITP from 40 Spanish centers, who had been treated with eltrombopag, were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The median age of our cohort (72% women) was 63 yr (interquartile range, IQR, 45-75 yr). The median time with ITP diagnosis was 81 months (IQR, 30-192 months). The median number of therapies prior to eltrombopag was 3 (IQR, 2-4). At the time of eltrombopag start, 45 patients (30%) were receiving concomitant treatment for ITP. Forty-six patients (30%) had bleeding signs/symptoms the month before the treatment started. The median platelet count at eltrombopag initiation was 22 × 10(9) /L (IQR, 8-39 × 10(9) /L). A total of 135 patients (88.8%) achieved a platelet response. The median time to platelet response was 12 d (95% CI, 9-13 d). Maintained platelet response rate during the 15-month period under examination was 75.2%. Twenty-eight patients (18.4%) experienced adverse events, mainly grades 1-2. CONCLUSION: Eltrombopag is highly effective and well tolerated in unselected patients with primary chronic ITP.
