scholarly journals Safety and Efficacy of Azathioprine as a Second Line Therapy for Primary Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (203) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishesh Sharma Poudyal ◽  
Binaya Sapkota ◽  
Gentle Sunder Shrestha ◽  
Sujan Thapalia ◽  
Bishal Gyawali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
P Value ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Azathioprine Therapy ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Steroid Refractory

Introduction: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura remains common blood disease in Nepal. Azathioprine is an oral immunosupressive medicine which has been used widely in various autoimmune disease and solid organ transplant patients. It is inexpensive, easily available and well tolerated medicine. This study was carried out to evaluate efficacy and safety of azathioprine as a second line medicine for primary ITP patients who were refractory to steroid therapy.Methods: The observational, pre-post study was conducted at Government of Nepal Civil Service Hospital, Kathmandu from January to October 2014. Twenty four primary ITP patients who were steroid refractory were treated with Azathioprine. Patients were termed steroid refractory if platelet counts were less than 30,000/ul on day 21st of steroid therapy. From day 22 onwards oral azathioprine 2mg/kg was started and steroids were tapered 10mg/week and stopped. Platelet counts of more than 30000/ul after one month of stopping steroid, while still on azathioprine, were termed response to azathioprine. Platelet count of more than 100,000/ul was termed complete response. The associations among age, gender, duration and platelets counts were analyzed by chi square test and Fisher's exact test (when individual cell frequency was less than 5). The comparison of platelets counts among the start and day 90 of Azathioprine therapy was performed by the paired t-test. Results: The study showed that there was not significant association among age and gender of the patients and their platelets count on the start of Azathioprine therapy (p value 0.354 and 0.725 respectively) and on day 90 of Azathioprine therapy (p value 0.082 and 0.762 respectively). The duration-wise comparisons of platelets count on both the start and day 90 of Azathioprine therapy were significant (p values 0.029 and 0.008 respectively). The paired comparison among platelets count on the start and day 90 of Azathioprine therapy was highly significant (p value 0.000).Conclusions: The study showed the therapeutic implication of azathioprine in ITP patients. It also showed that efficacy of azathioprine was comparable with other modes of treatment. In low income countries like Nepal azathioprine can be considered as second line treatment for steroid refractory ITP patients.Keywords: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; autoimmune disease; steroids; azathioprine; Nepal. | PubMed

scholarly journals Clinical and Morphological Profile of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Children - A Five Year Study in a Paediatric Tertiary Health Care Centre of South India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (46) ◽  
pp. 2724-2729
Author(s):  
Ashida M. Krishnan ◽  
Deepthi Raj M.L ◽  
Priya V.S ◽  
Arya R.S
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
South India ◽  
P Value ◽  
Severe Thrombocytopenia ◽  
Care Centre ◽  
Health Care Centre ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura

BACKGROUND Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is one of the most commonly encountered disease in paediatric practice. Thorough clinical and morphological study of peripheral blood and bone marrow is required for confirming ITP. Clinicomorphological aspects of paediatric ITP is a less studied topic especially in developing countries like India. The objective was to study the clinical and morphological profile of paediatric cases of ITP. METHODS This is a 5-year record based retrospective study conducted in a paediatric tertiary health care centre in Kerala, South India. Data of all paediatric cases diagnosed as ITP including clinical presentation, clinical findings, blood counts, peripheral blood morphology, bone marrow morphology, and treatment response was collected and entered in SPSS software version 16.0 and analysed. For assessing correlation, chi-square test was used. RESULTS The age of children ranged from 3 months to 15 years. H/o viral fever was noted in 53 % cases. Cases which had moderate and severe thrombocytopenia were 74 % and 21 % respectively. Isolated thrombocytopenia was the most common peripheral blood picture observed with few cases showing coexisting eosinophilia and anaemia. All cases showed megakaryocyte proliferation in marrow with 9 % cases showing coexisting iron deficiency anaemia. Majority of cases showed rapid response to steroid / IVIG therapy and the response had no correlation with grade of thrombocytopenia (p value < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Paediatric cases of ITP usually present following viral infections or vaccination, with worrisome bleeding episodes, petechiae, ecchymosis or purpura. KEYWORDS ITP, Paediatrics, Platelet Count, Thrombocytopenia, Vaccination

scholarly journals Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Complicating Resistant Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Case Report

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-107
Author(s):  
Farhana Afroz ◽  
Hasna Fahmima Haque ◽  
Samira Rahat Afroze ◽  
Muhammad Abdur Rahim ◽  
Aparna Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Subarachnoid Haemorrhage ◽  
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Conservative Management ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Chronic Itp

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease where low platelet counts predisposeto various bleeding tendencies; intracranial haemorrhageis one of them. It is a rare and devastating complication of ITP, mostly presenting as intracerebral (ICH) or subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Here, we report a 32-year-old splenectomized chronic ITP patient on corticosteroid and azathioprine, in whom spontaneous SAH developed. In this case, conservative management resulted in clinicoradiological improvement and showed eventual favourable out-come.Birdem Med J 2014; 4(2): 105-107

scholarly journals Quantitation of platelet-associated IgG by radial immunodiffusion

Blood ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
BS Morse ◽  
D Giuliani ◽  
M Nussbaum
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Radial Immunodiffusion ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Normal Platelet ◽  
Serum Igg ◽  
Acute Itp ◽  
Igg Level

Abstract Platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) was measured by a simple radial immunodiffusion technique using washed solubilized platelets and commercially available immunoplates. Subjects with normal platelet counts had PAIgG levels of 1.5--7.0 fg/platelet. Subjects with idiopathic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) had levels ranging from 5.7 to 70.5 fg/platelet. All patients with recurrent ITP and 85% of patients with acute ITP had elevated PAIgg. Elevated PAIgG was also found in 17% of patients with recovered ITP, 40% of patients with SLE and thrombocytopenia, 57% of patients with thrombocytopenia occurring during the course of septicemia, and 100% of patients with IgG myeloma in whom the serum IgG level was clearly elevated, regardless of the platelet count. The results are similar to reports that used more complex techniques.

Treatment Patterns and Splenectomy Failure Rates in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Canada: A Retrospective Chart Review

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 4565-4565
Author(s):  
Joseph Mikhael ◽  
Alan Tinmouth ◽  
Tazmin Merali ◽  
Mo Amin ◽  
Wendy Lam
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Initial Therapy ◽  
Second Line ◽  
First Line ◽  
Bleeding Events ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Line Therapy

Abstract Background: In clinical practice there is little consensus on treating patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) beyond first line therapy with steroids. Objectives: Describe the demographic and disease characteristics of adult ITP patients who receive treatment; Obtain the treatment approach for patients with ITP beyond first line treatment with steroids, with an emphasis on splenectomy; and Evaluate adverse bleeding outcomes associated with ITP. Methods: A retrospective chart review of ITP patients after initial therapy with steroids was conducted. Ten physicians (oncologists and hematologists) were recruited from across Canada and each physician provided at least 5 ITP cases for review. A total of 51 cases were reviewed and patients (&gt; 18 years old) were required to have had more than 1 course of steroids as treatment to be eligible. Results: The average age of patients at diagnosis was 42 (range 3 to 82 years); 37 (73%) of the patients were female, and 37 (73%) were Caucasian. The median platelet count upon presentation was 5×109/L. Median lines of therapy after initial therapy was 3 (range 0 to 6). Second line therapies varied, but most commonly patients underwent splenectomy (43%), followed by continued steroid treatment (16%), steroids plus IV Ig (16%), IV Ig alone (14%), immunosuppressant alone (2%), and anti-D plus steroids (2%). Of the patients reviewed, 40 (78%) eventually underwent splenectomy. Of the 40 splenectomized patients, 27 were splenectomized within the first year of diagnosis and 35 underwent splenectomy during the first 5 years. In addition, 62 of the splenectomies were laparoscopic, and the median hospital stay for all procedures was 5 days (range 1 to 60 days). Immediate failure of splenectomy occurred in 18% of patients, and the one- and five- year relapse/failure rates (defined as platelet count &lt; 30×109/L) were 38% and 55%, respectively. Other therapies following splenectomy included IV Ig, azathioprine, cyclosporine, danazol, mycophenolate, rituximab, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and anti-D. Only 6% of IV Ig use was for chronic maintenance therapy and 74% of use was for urgent therapy. A total of 61 bleeding events occurred, of which 10 were major (upper GI, mouth, rectal, and nose). Major bleeding events required hospitalization of the patient with an average length of stay of 5 days (range 2 to 14 days). Conclusions: Notwithstanding several limitations, the retrospective chart review suggests that there is wide variation in long-term therapy for patients with chronic ITP in Canada. Splenectomy was the most widely used second line therapy, although 18% of the patients were non-responders and the five-year relapse/failure rate was 55%.

Platelet Counts Following Eltrombopag Discontinuation in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 3517-3517
Author(s):  
Gregory Cheng ◽  
Michael Tarantino ◽  
Terry Gernsheimer ◽  
Oliver Meyer ◽  
Andres Brainsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Rescue Medication ◽  
Study Medication ◽  
Bleeding Events ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Baseline Platelet Count ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Transient Decrease

Abstract Abstract 3517 Poster Board III-454 BACKGROUND Eltrombopag (PROMACTA®; GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA) is an oral, small molecule (565 Da), thrombopoietin receptor agonist that has been approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). It is also being studied in thrombocytopenic patients with chronic liver disease, hepatitis C, myelodysplastic syndromes, and cancer. Withdrawal of treatments that stimulate platelet production may theoretically result in recurrent thrombocytopenia below pretreatment levels (below baseline). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether worsening of thrombocytopenia (ie, platelet count decrease below baseline) occurs after discontinuation of eltrombopag in patients with chronic ITP. METHODS: The lowest median platelet counts during the first 4 weeks posttherapy were compared with median baseline platelet counts. Data from 369 patients treated in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were analyzed: TRA100773A and TRA100773B were 6-week studies, and RAISE was a 6-month study. For all 3 studies, a baseline platelet count <30,000/μL was required. Platelet counts, bleeding events, and the use of ITP medication were examined in the 4 weeks following the discontinuation of eltrombopag or placebo. A transient decrease in platelet counts (ie, worsening of thrombocytopenia) was defined as a platelet count below 10,000/μL and at least 10,000/μL below each patient's baseline platelet count (Bussel N Eng J Med 2006). RESULTS: Using pooled data from the 3 studies, no decreases below baseline median platelet counts (placebo, 16,300/μL; eltrombopag, 16,000/μL) were observed compared to the lowest median platelet counts within the first 4 weeks posttherapy (placebo, 14,000/μL; eltrombopag, 17,000/μL). Across the pooled studies, a total of 10/128 (8%) of placebo-treated patients and 20/241 (8%) of eltrombopag-treated patients had a transient decrease in platelet counts in the 4 weeks following discontinuation or interruption of treatment. None of the 10 placebo-treated patients had bleeding events associated with posttreatment platelet nadirs. Three of the 20 eltrombopag-treated patients had bleeding events and/or rescue treatment associated with the platelet nadir in the 4-week posttreatment period. One patient discontinued eltrombopag after achieving platelet counts >200,000/μL following on-therapy rescue medication (corticosteroid 0.5 mg/kg/day); 9 days after discontinuing study medication, the patient had grade 1 gum bleeding and resumed daily corticosteroids at an increased dose. The second patient had grade 3 menorrhagia and was administered vincristine (patient had a history of similar symptoms). The third patient had Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, interrupted eltrombopag due to platelet counts >400,000/μL, and 7 days after holding eltrombopag had a platelet count of 2000/μL, experienced grade 1 mouth hemorrhage and grade 2 petechiae, and did not require rescue medication. The patient continued in the study for the full 6 months and following permanent discontinuation of eltrombopag, this patient did not experience a transient decrease in platelet counts or any bleeding. CONCLUSION: Across 3 placebo-controlled studies, the incidence of transient decreases in platelet counts following discontinuation or interruption of study medication was similar in patients receiving eltrombopag or placebo. Therefore, these decreases may be unrelated to study medication and may represent normal fluctuations in platelet counts in patients with chronic ITP. Transient platelet count decreases were generally not associated with bleeding events. Disclosures: Cheng: GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding. Tarantino:GlaxoSmithKline: Speakers Bureau; Lundbeck: Speakers Bureau; Baxter: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Gernsheimer:GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Meyer:GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria. Brainsky:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment. Stone:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment.

Thrombopoietin Levels May Predict Responsiveness to Therapy with Thrombopoietin Agonists Among Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura,

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3288-3288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Makar ◽  
Olga S. Zhukov ◽  
Mervyn A. Sahud ◽  
David J. Kuter
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Clinical Response ◽  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Myeloproliferative Disorders ◽  
Interquartile Range ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Platelet Production ◽  
Platelet Counts

Abstract Abstract 3288 INTRODUCTION: Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the major regulator of platelet production. In prior clinical studies, thrombopoietin levels have been shown to vary inversely with circulating platelet mass and with the rate of platelet production. Thus, TPO levels may help distinguish between the various disorders of thrombocytopenia. In addition, the introduction of TPO agonists has created an interest in predicting the response of patients to these agents. Determining TPO levels may help predict such treatment responses. METHODS: Sera from 121 patients with a history of abnormal platelet counts were tested using a novel, commercially available ELISA assay that measures TPO levels. The TPO assay detected TPO levels as low as 7 pg/mL and was linear for levels up to 2000 pg/mL. The coefficient of variation ranged from 27% near the lower limit of detection to 9% at a TPO concentration of 669 pg/mL. The reference range for TPO was established in serum samples from 118 apparently healthy individuals (58 males and 60 females) and was 7–99 pg/mL. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare continuous variables and the Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical variables. RESULTS: The patient population included 40 patients with a consumptive thrombocytopenia (38 with primary or secondary immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), 2 with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), 34 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (23 with essential thrombocytosis, 9 with polycythemia vera, 2 with an ill-defined myeloproliferative disorder), and 47 patients with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia (29 with chemotherapy-related thrombocytopenia, 19 with primary or secondary bone marrow failure syndromes). Among the 38 patients with ITP, 11 were taking TPO agonists (9 on romiplostim, 2 on eltrombopag), 19 were taking immunomodulatory agents (16 on steroids alone or in combination with other therapies, 2 on azathioprine, 1 on danazol), and 12 were off ITP-specific therapy when the TPO level was measured. 9 out of 38 (24%) patients with ITP had undergone splenectomy and/or been previously treated with rituximab. The median serum TPO level in patients with consumptive thrombocytopenia was 64.5 pg/mL (interquartile range, 48.5–97.5 pg/mL) and the corresponding median platelet count was 68,000/μL (interquartile range, 27,000–144,500) (Figure). While patients with myeloproliferative disorders had similar TPO levels [median 87.0 pg/mL (38.0–125.5)], their platelet counts were significantly higher than those of patients with consumptive thrombocytopenia [median 549,500/mL (431,250–693,000] (P <0.0001). Contrastingly, comparable platelet counts [median 61,000/μL (31,000–118,000)] were observed among patients with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia, but serum TPO levels were significantly higher than those of patients with consumptive thrombocytopenia [844 pg/mL (409.5–1551.5), P <0.0001]. Among 22 evaluable patients meeting diagnostic criteria for primary or secondary ITP who had taken a TPO agonist for at least 1 month, serum TPO levels appeared to predict responsiveness to the drug. A clinical response to a TPO agonist was defined as achieving a platelet count ≥50,000/μL after starting the drug and maintaining it at or above that count in ≥50% of subsequent complete blood counts from initiation until discontinuation of the drug, loss to follow-up, or 6 months had passed, whichever was longest, without the need for recurrent rescue therapy. Whereas 14 out of 16 (88%) ITP patients with a TPO level <99 pg/mL met our definition for a clinical response to treatment with a TPO agonist, only 1 out of 6 patients (17%) with a TPO level >99 pg/mL responded (P <0.005 for the difference in clinical response to TPO agents.) CONCLUSIONS: TPO levels may have diagnostic utility in discriminating between patients with hypoproliferative and consumptive thrombocytopenia. High TPO levels among patients with ITP may predict a poor clinical response to treatment with TPO agonists. Further studies are required to confirm these data. Disclosures: Zhukov: Quest Diagnostics: Employment. Sahud:Quest Diagnostics: Employment. Kuter:Quest Diagnostics: Consultancy, Research Funding.

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