Maintenance of efficacy and its predictors after discontinuation of eltrombopag in adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To determine the efficacy of eltrombopag for primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults and the predictive factors for treatment-free response (TFR) . Methods: Clinical data of adults with ITP who received eltrombopag from June 14, 2013 to May 31, 2021 in the Hematology Department of Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical College were retrospectively analyzed. The initial dose of eltrombopag was 25 mg/d, and the maximum dose was 75 mg/d; the dose was adjusted to maintain the platelet count to within 50-150×10(9)/L. Treatment was discontinued according either to the protocol, on the patient's wishes or doctor's judgment (prescription medication), or based on clinical trials. The efficacy of eltrombopag and factors for TFR among patients who achieved complete response and those who discontinued treatment were analyzed. Results: Overall, 106 patients with ITP (33 men and 73 women) were included in the study. The median age of patients was 50 (18-89) years. There were 2, 10, and 94 cases of newly diagnosed, persistent, and chronic ITP, respectively. The complete response rate was 44.3% (47/106), the response rate was 34.0% (36/106), and the overall response rate was 78.3% (83/106). Meanwhile, 83 patients who responded to treatment discontinued eltrombopag; of these, 81 patients were evaluated. Additionally, 17 patients (21.0%) achieved TFR. The median follow-up duration of patients who achieved TFR was 126 (30-170) weeks. The recurrence rate was 17.6% (3/17), and the relapse-free survival rate was 76.5%. The results of univariate analysis revealed that non-recurrence after discontinuation of other treatments for ITP (P=0.001), and platelet count and eltrombopag dose of ≥100×10(9)/L (P=0.007) and ≤25 mg/d (P=0.031), respectively, upon discontinuation of eltrombopag were predictors of TFR; these effects were attributed to prolonged effective duration of eltrombopag. Multivariate analysis showed that there was a correlation between non-recurrence and prolonged effective duration after discontinuation of other treatments for ITP (P=0.002) . Conclusion: Eltrombopag is effective for patients with ITP as it can result in TFR. Predictors for TFR include non-recurrence after discontinuation of concomitant ITP treatment, and platelet count and eltrombopag dose of ≥100 × 10(9)/L and ≤25 mg/d upon discontinuation of treatment, respectively.

Prognostic study of 229 follicular lymphoma patients treated with rituximab combined with chemotherapy / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of follicular lymphoma (FL) in the era of rituximab combined with chemotherapy and the prognostic significance of the follicular lymphoma international prognostic index (FLIPI), follicular lymphoma international prognostic index 2 (FLIPI2), international prognostic index (IPI), revised international prognostic index (R-IPI), National Comprehensive Cancer Network international prognostic index (NCCN-IPI) among Chinese patients. Methods: 229 FL patients who were treated initially with rituximab combined with CHOP-like (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy from November 2008 to April 2018 were analyzed retrospectively and all were scored by the above clinical index. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis were performed on 201 patients who completed the treatment and were followed regularly. Results: In the univariate survival analysis, age>60 years, hemoglobin<120 g/L, elevated serumβ(2)- macroglobulin, involvement of bone marrow and elevated CRP were the risk prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Moreover, the analysis of the OS and PFS between rituximab (R) maintenance (RM) group and non-maintenance (non-RM) group showed that the OS and PFS of RM group were better than those of non-RM. In the multivariate analysis of OS, hemoglobin<120 g/L, involvement of bone marrow, elevated CRP and non-RM were independent prognostic factors. In the multivariate analysis of PFS, hemoglobin<120 g/L, CRP and non-RM were independent prognostic factors. When FLIPI2 was included in the multivariate analysis, CRP and FLIPI2 were independent prognostic factors in both OS and PFS, and non-RM was independent prognostic factors in PFS. Conclusion: FLIPI2 is the better risk stratification in FL patients in the era of rituximab.

Efficacy and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia during the perioperative period / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) treatment for primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients during the perioperative period. Methods: Adult ITP patients who were refractory to first-line glucocorticoid therapy and underwent selective surgery were enrolled to be treated with rhTPO at the dosage of 1.5×10(4)U/d subcutaneously during the perioperative period. rhTPO treatment would not be terminated until one of the following conditions occurred: ①Platelet counts met the requirement of surgery; ②Platelet counts were ≥100×10(9)/L; ③Completed the 14 days of therapy. End points of the study were surgery rate, rhTPO therapy response rate, rescue therapy rate and adverse responses. Results: 42 patients were enrolled from Jan. 1, 2016 to Jun. 30, 2018. 14 were male and 28 were female. The median age was 60 (25-73) years old. There were no newly diagnosed patients. 5 patients were persistent and 37 were chronic. 27 patients completed selective surgery. The surgery rate was 64.3% (27/42) . Among them, 13 patients were under local anesthesia and 14 under general anesthesia. Of 42 cases receiving rhTPO therapy. 31 patients achieved responses, The overall response rate was of 73.8%. Among them, 24 patients achieved CR. The CR ratio was 77.4% (24/31) . 7 achieved response. The response ratio was 22.6% (7/31) . 11 patients did not respond to rhTPO therapy. The non-response rate was 26.2% (11/42) . The median time to reach CR was 7 (3-16) days. The median time to reach the peak of platelet counts were 10 (3-21) days. rhTPO was used for a median of 7 (3-14) days. The median platelet counts of patients undergoing surgery before rhTPO therapy, before surgery and at day 7 after surgery were 33 (20-89) ×10(9)/L, 125 (78-245) ×10(9)/L and 72 (30-250) ×10(9)/L, respectively. The median peak of platelet counts was 149 (101-466) ×10(9)/L. No infection, bleeding, thromboembolism and therapy-related adverse responses occurred in the patients. Conclusion: rhTPO for ITP patients during the perioperative period is safe and effective.