Eltrombopag in immune thrombocytopenia: efficacy review and update on drug safety.

ABSTRACT: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder that induces a decrease in the number of circulating platelets due to spleen destruction and inability of megakaryocytes to restore normal counts. Immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoid drugs constitutes the first line of treatment. However, lack of response to these agents is not uncommon, and the management of refractory patients is a matter of controversy. In fact, day-to-day clinical practice shows that, in spite of the current guidelines, splenectomy, which is currently considered a suitable second-choice therapy, is being replaced by treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists. These boost platelet production by megakaryocytes. The use of one of these, namely eltrombopag, has been permitted for ITP patients refractory

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Porras JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5971401 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature