Study provides evidence for combination therapy as first-line treatment for relapsed ITP

Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMOct 9 2023

Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, conducted a multicenter comprehensive retrospective analysis to assess the effectiveness and safety of primary single-agent and combination therapies in treating adult patients with relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

In the treatment of ITP, glucocorticoids and IVIg are considered the primary therapeutic options. Typically, clinicians opt for either of these treatments when addressing ITP cases. The research pertaining to the combined utilization of these two medications has predominantly focused on emergency situations and cases related to ITP during pregnancy. There has been limited investigation into the treatment of relapsed ITP in adult patients. This study, which involved a retrospective examination of clinical cases from multiple centers, represents the first attempt to compare the effectiveness of these three treatment modalities in enhancing platelet counts among adult relapsed ITP patients. The findings from this research serve as a valuable reference for clinicians engaged in the management of ITP.

Professor Zhang Lei highlighted, "Our study unveiled a remarkable finding: the combination therapy of IVIg and glucocorticoids in treating adult relapsed ITP patients led to a complete response (CR) rate of 71.83% within 7 days, outperforming the IVIg group (43.48%) and the glucocorticoid group (23.08%). Moreover, the rate of improvement in platelet count and the daily proportions reaching 30×10⁹/L, 50×10⁹/L, and 100×10⁹/L in the combination therapy group significantly differed from those in each single-agent group. Therefore, for relapsed persistent and chronic ITP patients, especially those requiring a rapid increase in platelet levels, relying solely on glucocorticoid medication might not be the most effective strategy. Combining IVIg to achieve superior efficacy is advisable. While patients responded similarly to IVIg and glucocorticoid drugs, it's noteworthy that the IVIg group exhibited a faster onset of action and superior treatment efficacy compared to the glucocorticoid group. Hence, when considering first-line single-agent therapy for adult relapsed ITP patients, prioritizing IVIg treatment is recommended."

Professor Zhang Lei further stressed, "With the continuous advancement of biopharmaceutical technology, a plethora of new drugs and targeted therapies has expanded the clinical avenues for ITP patients. However, no clear consensus has been reached regarding the optimal medication sequence, leading more patients to prefer newer drugs and targeted therapies like TPO-RA, rituximab, Syk inhibitors, and Fcγ receptor inhibitors upon relapse. This diversity has introduced significant variations in ITP relapse treatments. Our findings indicate that for relapsed persistent and chronic ITP patients, the combination therapy approach involving first-line drugs offers advantages in both onset time and treatment efficacy. This rapid, stable, and high CR rate clinical efficacy is particularly beneficial for patients with low platelet counts and accompanying bleeding symptoms. Combination therapy can safely and effectively elevate platelet counts swiftly, achieving hemostasis and reducing the necessity for platelet transfusions."

Given that this study is retrospective, its level of evidence falls below that of prospective research. Consequently, it remains essential for clinical practitioners to make treatment choices in line with their clinical expertise and the unique circumstances of their patients. Furthermore, there is an aspiration that clinical research centers throughout the country will engage in more prospective studies for patients in similar situations in the future.

The research was based at Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, and supported by funding from National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS) and Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem Innovation Fund.