Eltrombopag for the Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia: The Aegean Region of Turkey Experience.
OBJECTIVE
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by transient or persistent decrease of the platelet count to less than 100x109/L. Although it is included in a benign disease group, bleeding complications may be mortal. With a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, which came into use in recent years, seem to be an effective option in the treatment of resistant cases. This study aimed to retrospectively assess the efficacy, long-term safety, and tolerability of eltrombopag in Turkish patients with chronic ITP in the Aegean region of Turkey.


METHODS
Retrospective data of 40 patients with refractory ITP who were treated with eltrombopag in the Aegean region were examined and evaluated.


RESULTS
The total rate of response was 87%, and the median duration of response defined as the number of the platelets being over 50x109/L was 19.5 (interquartile range: 5-60) days. In one patient, venous sinus thrombosis was observed with no other additional risk factors due to or related to thrombosis. Another patient with complete response and irregular follow-up for 12 months was lost due to sudden death as the result of probable acute myocardial infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the responses to eltrombopag were satisfactory, patients need to be monitored closely for overshooting platelet counts as well as thromboembolic events.
Katip Çelebi University Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk Research and Education Hospital, Clinic of Hematology, İzmir, Turkey E-mail: fusun75@gmail.com.
Füsun
F
Özdemirkıran
Bahriye
B
Payzın
H Demet
HD
Kiper
Sibel
S
Kabukçu
Gülsüm
G
Akgün Çağlıyan
Selda
S
Kahraman
Ömür Gökmen
ÖG
Sevindik
Cengiz
C
Ceylan
Gürhan
G
Kadıköylü
Fahri
F
Şahin
Ali
A
Keskin
Öykü
Ö
Arslan
Mehmet Ali
MA
Özcan
Gülnur
G
Kabukçu
Gülsüm
G
Görgün
Zahit
Z
Bolaman
Filiz
F
Büyükkeçeci
Oktay
O
Bilgir
İnci
İ
Alacacıoğlu
Filiz
F
Vural
Murat
M
Tombuloğlu
Zafer
Z
Gökgöz
Güray
G
Saydam
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001565:Benzoates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin / Q000819:agonists*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000139:chemically induced; D013156:Splenectomy; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001565:Benzoates; D006834:Hydrazines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin; C520809:eltrombopag