Eltrombopag for resistant immune thrombocytopenia secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Autoimmune manifestations are a common occurrence with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We describe a case of CLL-associated immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) that had a loss of response to standard treatment for ITP. The thrombopoeitin receptor agonist, eltrombopag, was successfully used preoperatively to increase the platelet count to a safer level, in this instance to facilitate laparoscopic splenectomy.