Romiplostim use in immune thrombocytopenia: Experience in Cuenca, Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction. The international consensus and the American Society of Hematology guidelines from 2019 established thrombopoietin analogues as the second-line therapy for primary immune thrombocytopenia cases.
Objectives. To describe romiplostim usefulness in patients with immune thrombocytopenia in a third-level hospital in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Materials and methods. We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study in patients with immune thrombocytopenia treated with romiplostim. We evaluated the following variables: age, gender, previous therapies to romiplostim, dose, frequency, complications, change of thrombopoietin analogue, and treatment discontinuation.
Results. We included 21 patients with immune thrombocytopenia treated with romiplostim, with a median age of 49 years. All patients received corticosteroids as first-line treatment. Three patients required longer administration intervals (over a week), with weekly doses lower than those recommended (< 1 μg/kg). Due to lack of efficacy, six patients replaced elthrombopag with romiplostim. Of the total, three suffered thrombotic complications: two had portal venous thrombosis, and one had pulmonary thromboembolism; five of the patients discontinued romiplostim scheme without resuming it.
Conclusions. Romiplostim constitutes a convenient second-line therapy in immune thrombocytopenia. Despite the small sample size, romiplostim early use can minimize
toxicities and infectious risks.