Total remission of severe immune thrombocytopenia after short term treatment with romiplostim.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults is an acquired chronic immune-mediated disorder defined by isolated thrombocytopenia. In recent years, an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of ITP has been achieved and it is now accepted that the disorder is due to increased platelet destruction and decreased platelet production from megakary-ocytes. Thrombopoietin (TPO)-receptor agonists (romiplostim and eltrombopag) are new therapeutic modalities in the treatment of ITP. Here we describe a case of an elderly patient with severe ITP who presented complete remission after short-term use of romiplostim (only 3 weekly doses). This finding is quite interesting as the TPO-receptor agonists are, so far, believed to rarely lead to off-treatment sustained remission. The common notion of long-term use of romiplostim could be reexamined in future studies. Furthermore, the short term treatment with romiplostim may reduce the cost and the risk of side effects.

Introduction

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune syndrome involving antibody- and cell-mediated destruction of platelets and suppression of platelet production that may predispose to bleeding. Estimates of the incidence of adult-onset ITP range from approximately 1.6 to 3.9 per 100,000 persons per year, with a prevalence ranging from 9.5 to 23.6 per 100,000 persons, based on diagnostic codes in the UK health registry. ITP is generally a diagnosis of exclusion and in adults typically shows an insidious onset and follows a chronic course.[1,2] In this case report, the first in the literature to our knowledge, we describe an 83-year-old man who responded after short-term therapy with the TPO-receptor agonist romiplostim with complete remission, whereas previous first-line interventions had not achieved response.

Case Report

An 83-year-old Caucasian male was admitted to our clinic because of sudden onset of gastrointestinal bleeding. His medical history included diagnosis of Rendu-Osler-Weber disease and a hospitalization for ITP 2 years before previous admission, successfully treated with corticosteroids. On physical examination the patient had no bruises or petechiae, was afebrile, his pulse was regular and his blood pressure and respiratory rate were normal. Clear lung sounds were found bilaterally. No focal neurologic deficits were found. In general, the patient was appropriately alert and oriented.

Laboratory studies were ordered and revealed thrombocytopenia and anemia (PLT: 8×109/L, Hb 10.5 g/dL). The peripheral blood smear showed thrombocytopenia without any morphological abnormalities. Additionally, immunologic and virology tests were carried out revealing no abnormality.

The patient was first treated with coricosteroids (prednisolone 1 mg/kg) but without any response. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were performed with results compatible with ITP.

The patient's bleeding symptoms worsened and now also included hematuria and vesicular bleeding. Combined prednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg 400 mg/kg for 4 days) was then administered, with no response. Platelet transfusion was given, in an attempt to raise the platelet count quickly, as indicated in cases of emergency bleeding. The platelet count still did not increase at all. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against B-cell antigen CD-20, (375 mg/m2) was given in combination to corticosteroids, but still without success. Splenectomy was not an option due to the patient's refusal to undergo the specific procedure. Romiplostim (1 µg/kg of a weekly subcutaneous injection) in combination with prednisolone (50 mg/day) was decided. On the 3rd weekly dose (3 mg/kg) the platelet count increased up to 100×109 /L. The 4th dose was postponed since the platelet count was 700×109/L (Figure 1). Acetylsalicylic acid was added as a thromboprophylactic measure and the patient was then discharged. After 3 months of follow up (under corticosteroid therapy in the tapering phase, ie: 4 mg of methyl-prednisolone day after day) the platelet count was still normal, at a level of approximately 400×109/L. The patient remained in complete remission during the one year follow up.

Figure 1

Platelets response after treatment with romiplostim.

Discussion

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia, defined as a peripheral blood platelet count less than 100×109/L, and the absence of any obvious initiating and/or underlying cause of thrombocytopenia. ITP is classified by duration into: newly diagnosed (diagnosis to 3 months), persistent (3–12 months' duration) and chronic (>12 months' duration). Severe ITP is defined as bleeding at presentation or during treatment requiring additional therapy. Refractory ITP is defined as the presence of severe ITP after splenectomy. Non-splenectomized patients are defined as responders or non-responders to various treatments.[3]

Signs and symptoms can vary widely. In some cases ITP is asymptomatic, whereas in others development of visible signs such as bruises, petechiae, epistaxis or serious bleeding episodes occur (gastrointestinal hemorrhage, skin or mucosal hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage). The severity of thrombocytopenia seems to correlate to some extent with the bleeding risk.[4]

The pathogenesis of ITP is based on a combination of enhanced platelet clearance and a variably impaired platelet production.[5,6] The disorder is due to a diversity of immune effects, so no single therapeutic approach is effective for all patients with ITP. Variations in the etiology of the disorder explain why some patients respond to therapy that suppresses B-cells, others to drugs that suppress T-cells and others to agents that activate thromThe TPO-receptor agonists (romiplostim and eltrombopag) are new therapeutic modalities that have recently been licenced for the treatment of ITP.10-bopoiesis.[7-9] The TPO-receptor agonists (romiplostim and eltrombopag) are new therapeutic modalities that have recently been licenced for the treatment of ITP.[10-13] Reported adverse effects of these agents have been relatively mild, although rare serious events such as bone marrow reticulin formation, thromboembolic episodes and liver function test abnormalities have occurred. Romiplostim and eltrombopag bear no structural homology to TPO but can both bind and activate the TPO receptor. Up to now, TPO-receptor agonists are used for patients at risk of bleeding, who relapse after splenectomy or who have a contraindication to splenectomy and who have already failed at least one other therapy.[14] They are a costly option, but in view of the good tolerability and low toxicity they are often chosen for treatment.

In our case the patient was treated with romiplostim, achieved complete response after short term administration of the drug (only 3 weekly doses) and overall tolerated treatment very well. Since then he remains free of symptoms, with a stable and normal platelet count. This finding is quite interesting as the TPO-receptor agonists are, so far, believed to lead to off-treatment sustained remission very rarely. The common notion of long-term use of romiplostim could be re-examined in future studies It is worth mentioning that the successful response to romiplostim in our case may be explained by pre-stimulated thrombopoiesis as a result of the previous corticosteroid, IVIg and rituximab treatment. The pre-treatment with rituximab may be actually responsible for the excellent response to romiplostim. In recent bibliographic data, two cases have been described with effective treatment of severe ITP by combined rituximab and romiplostim.[15] Our case accords with these findings with the difference that the patient received only one dose of rituximab and 3 doses of romiplostim afterwards.

Despite the plethora of therapeutic strategies of ITP there is no evidence to guide an algorithm of treatment for recurrent or persistent cases of ITP. According to the 2011 evidence based practice guidelines of the American Society of Hematology for ITP, additional studies are needed concerning the first-line therapy for the management of bleeding and the second-line therapies.[14] If treatment is required it should be individualized for each patient and the final judgment should be made after thorough investigation of individual circumstances. The main goal is to achieve an increase of the platelet count that is hemostatic rather than normal.

The role of TPO agonists in the management of ITP will evolve in the future when results from clinical trials and experience will finally clarify their efficacy and potential side effects. For this purpose collaboration between health care centers is imperative. In this way the treatment of ITP will transform from opinion based to evidence-based. Nowadays, romiplostim seems a very promising therapy for the treatment of refractory forms of ITP so more clinical trials are needed in order to clarify the duration, dosage, effectiveness and safety of the drug either as monotherapy or combination therapy with other agents.