Complete recovery from refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura in three patients treated with etanercept.
Management of patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who have persistent, severe, and symptomatic thrombocytopenia following splenectomy is difficult and empirical. No single agent or regimen provides long-term success for most patients, and for most treatments it is difficult to assess whether benefits outweigh risks. We report three consecutive patients with critical chronic refractory ITP, who responded promptly and completely following treatment with etanercept, an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These patients had failed 6-11 previous treatments. In the first patient, etanercept was given for its approved indication: a flare of co-existing rheumatoid arthritis. The next two patients were treated with etanercept because of successful outcomes in the previous patients. Although etanercept appeared to be effective treatment for ITP in these 3 patients, the experimental nature of this treatment and the potential risks must be emphasized. On the basis of these case reports, a clinical trial has been initiated to systematically evaluate the efficacy and risks of etanercept in the management of children and adults with chronic ITP.
Hematology-Oncology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190, USA.
J R
JR
McMinn
Stephen
S
Cohen
Joseph
J
Moore
Scott
S
Lilly
Joan
J
Parkhurst
Michael D
MD
Tarantino
Deirdra R
DR
Terrell
James N
JN
George
D000293:Adolescent; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept