Immune thrombocytopenia in adults: A single-centre review of demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder characterised by an isolated thrombocytopenia in the absence of an alternative diagnosis. The condition is highly heterogeneous with some patients requiring multiple of therapy before achieving response. In this study, we collected data on a large cohort of primary ITP patients with the objective of identifying variables which may predict treatment requirements. METHODS: We collected data on 379 patients, 275 with a confirmed diagnosis of primary ITP included demographics, baseline laboratory results and treatments. These were compared against treatment responses and lines of therapy. RESULTS: Patients who presented with a platelet count of <30 × 109 /L or bleeding symptoms were observed to require more subsequent lines of therapy (P-value <0.001). 32% of patients (n = 87) received no treatment, and these patients had a significantly higher median count compared to those with required >2 lines of therapy (P-value <0.001). Superior response rates were demonstrated with thrombopoietin receptor agonists when compared with other agents irrespective of baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet counts at diagnosis are a potentially strong predictive indicator of subsequent lines of therapy. Patients with bleeding symptoms at diagnosis were more likely to have lower median platelets counts.

Comparison of Rituximab originator (MabThera) to biosimilar (Truxima) in patients with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is an acute, multisystem thrombotic microangiopathy mediated by ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) autoantibodies. Immunosuppression with anti-CD20 therapy is the mainstay of treatment. MabThera's patent has now expired and biosimilars have been approved. Eighty-four consecutive patient episodes over 2 years, prior to and following our switch to Truxima are presented. Day 1 (D1), Day 28 (D28) and 3-month platelet counts, ADAMTS13 activity, and CD19 levels, adverse reactions and infective complications were recorded. Platelet counts were not significantly different between acute MabThera and Truxima treatment (D1 P = 0.085, D28 P = 0.77, 3 months P = 0.71) and electively (D1 P = 0.79, D28 P = 0.68, 3 months P = 0.99). ADAMTS13 recovery also was not significantly different acutely (D1 P = 0.99, D28 P = 0.27, 3 months P = 0.26) and electively (D1 P = 0.59, D28 P = 0.61, 3 months P = 0.34). CD19% depletion at D1 and 3 months was not significantly different acutely (D1 P = 0.52, 3 months P = 0.56) and electively (D1 P = 0.22, 3 months P = 0.19). Infusion reactions and infective complications were comparable with both therapies. This is the first series of the Rituximab biosimilar Truxima to be reported in iTTP, demonstrating equivalence to MabThera in terms of ADAMTS13 recovery, CD19 depletion, and platelet count at D28 and 3 months post-administration, with comparable infusion and infective complications. The financial benefit of the biosimilar anti-CD20 is considerable.