Eltrombopag: a new treatment option for chronic refractory adult immune thrombocytopenia

which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an auto-immune disease characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction and reduced platelet production caused by antiplatelet autoantibodies, leading to a marked decrease in platelet count and rarely life-threatening bleeding [1]. The main treatment purpose for chronic ITP is to maintain platelet counts sufficient to minimize bleeding risk [2]. First-line treatments for chronic ITP include corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, anti-D, and various immuno-suppressive or cytotoxic drugs (e.g., vincristine, cyclopho-sphamide, cyclosporine A, and rituximab), with the main emphasis on preventing platelet destruction. However, first-line therapy is often ineffective and can be limited by side effects [3]. Based on the evidence that ITP might be attributed to decreased platelet production due to inhibition of megakaryopoiesis by antiplatelet antibodies [4], megakaryo-poietic stimulation therapy aimed at increasing platelet production by thrombopoietin or thrombopoietin mimetics was considered as an alternative in management of ITP. Recombinant thrombopoietin was not efficient because it produced autoantibodies that cross-react with and neutralize endogenous thrombopoietin, leading to severe thrombo-cytopenia [5], although it had a positive effect on platelet counts in patients with ITP. The novel thrombopoietin receptor agonists romiplostim and eltrombopag were developed in 2004. Subsequently, they were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the second-line treatment of chronic ITP owing to their excellent therapeutic efficacy in treating ITP. Romiplostim is a peptibody (Fc-peptide fusion protein) that is administered by subcutaneous injection, whereas eltrombopag is an oral, nonpeptide agent that has an effect similar to romiplostim [2, 6]. These thrombopoietin mimetics bind to and activate the thrombopoietin receptor, c-Mpl, and cause proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocyte progenitor cells [7]. In particular, they have no sequence homology with human thrombopoietin and should not stimulate production of antithrombopoietin antibodies. Clinical studies proved the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag in the management of chronic ITP [2, 4]. A safe platelet count was recovered in 70–80% of cases with chronic ITP resistant to one or more treatments, including splenectomy. No clinically relevant side effects such as bone marrow fibrosis, bleeding by rebound thrombocytopenia on eltrombopag withdrawal, or serious liver damage were observed with the eltrombopag treatments [3]. Since the dose-response study [8], many trials reached an agreement that the starting dose of eltrombopag should be 50 mg/day and the dosage could be increased up to 75 mg/day. For patients of East …