Sunil Lakhwani1,2, María Perera3, Fernando Fernández-Fuertes4, Mario A Ríos de Paz5, Melisa Torres3, José María Raya1,2, Miguel T Hernández1,2. 1. Department of Haematology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. 3. Department of Haematology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. 4. Department of Haematology, Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. 5. Department of Haematology, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the reasons for and result of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) switching in adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients of 4 Spanish centres. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed all patients who received sequential treatment with both TPO-RA between 2010 and 2015 recording clinical and biological parameters. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included; 17 received first romiplostim and 9 received first eltrombopag. Reasons for switching were inefficacy (n = 10), patient preference (n = 8), side effects (n = 5) and excessive platelet count fluctuation (n = 3). When the switch was due to inefficacy, 100% of patients who received romiplostim first and 66% who received eltrombopag first responded to the second drug. It is significant that none of the patients who received romiplostim first reached the maximum recommended dose before switching. When the change was due to patient preference or because of side effects, 100% of the patients responded to both TPO-RA. Three patients changed from romiplostim to eltrombopag due to platelet count fluctuation; one did not respond and the fluctuation persisted in the remaining 2 patients. We also found 4 sustained remissions after administering the second TPO-RA, 2 of these with inefficacy of the first drug. CONCLUSION: TPO-RA switching is a feasible strategy in different scenarios with high probability of success.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the reasons for and result of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) switching in adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients of 4 Spanish centres. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed all patients who received sequential treatment with both TPO-RA between 2010 and 2015 recording clinical and biological parameters. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included; 17 received first romiplostim and 9 received first eltrombopag. Reasons for switching were inefficacy (n = 10), patient preference (n = 8), side effects (n = 5) and excessive platelet count fluctuation (n = 3). When the switch was due to inefficacy, 100% of patients who received romiplostim first and 66% who received eltrombopag first responded to the second drug. It is significant that none of the patients who received romiplostim first reached the maximum recommended dose before switching. When the change was due to patient preference or because of side effects, 100% of the patients responded to both TPO-RA. Three patients changed from romiplostim to eltrombopag due to platelet count fluctuation; one did not respond and the fluctuation persisted in the remaining 2 patients. We also found 4 sustained remissions after administering the second TPO-RA, 2 of these with inefficacy of the first drug. CONCLUSION:TPO-RA switching is a feasible strategy in different scenarios with high probability of success.
Authors: Drew Provan; Donald M Arnold; James B Bussel; Beng H Chong; Nichola Cooper; Terry Gernsheimer; Waleed Ghanima; Bertrand Godeau; Tomás José González-López; John Grainger; Ming Hou; Caroline Kruse; Vickie McDonald; Marc Michel; Adrian C Newland; Sue Pavord; Francesco Rodeghiero; Marie Scully; Yoshiaki Tomiyama; Raymond S Wong; Francesco Zaja; David J Kuter Journal: Blood Adv Date: 2019-11-26