Glucocorticoids promote response to thrombopoietin-receptor agonists in refractory ITP: a case series

Abstract

A proportion of patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura are refractory to multiple therapies including thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RA). We report 10 patients who did not respond to a TPO-RA until the addition of a glucocorticoid. These patients were previously treated with a median of 6 therapies. One patient elected to discontinue both medications despite persistent thrombocytopenia. The remaining 9 patients continued on the combination of prednisone (doses 5 mg every other day to 10 mg daily) and a TPO-RA. Combination therapy with low dose glucocorticoid and a TPO-RA may be an option for patients unresponsive to a TPO-RA alone.

Keywords: Autoimmune thrombocytopenia; Glucocorticoids; Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; Refractory; Thrombopoietin-receptor agonists.