1. Management of elderly patients with immune thrombocytopenia: Real-world evidence from 451 patients older than 60 years
- Author
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Palandri, F., Santoro, C., Carpenedo, M., Cantoni, S., Barcellini, W., Carli, G., Carrai, V., Rossi, E., Rivolti, E., Lucchesi, A., Rotondo, F., Baldacci, E., Auteri, G., Sutto, E., Di Pietro, C., Catani, L., Bartoletti, D., De Stefano, V., Ruggeri, M., Mazzucconi, M. G., Cavo, M., Rodeghiero, F., Vianelli, N., Rossi E. (ORCID:0000-0002-7572-9379), De Stefano V. (ORCID:0000-0002-5178-5827), Palandri, F., Santoro, C., Carpenedo, M., Cantoni, S., Barcellini, W., Carli, G., Carrai, V., Rossi, E., Rivolti, E., Lucchesi, A., Rotondo, F., Baldacci, E., Auteri, G., Sutto, E., Di Pietro, C., Catani, L., Bartoletti, D., De Stefano, V., Ruggeri, M., Mazzucconi, M. G., Cavo, M., Rodeghiero, F., Vianelli, N., Rossi E. (ORCID:0000-0002-7572-9379), and De Stefano V. (ORCID:0000-0002-5178-5827)
- Abstract
Introduction: Primary Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in the elderly is a major clinical challenge which is increasingly frequent due to global ageing population. Materials and methods: To describe baseline ITP features, management, and outcome, a centralized electronic database was established, including data of 451 patients aged ≥60 years that were treated from 2000 onwards and were observed for ≥1 year (total observation of 2704 patient-years). Results: At ITP diagnosis, median age was 71.1 years (age ≥ 75: 42.8%); 237 (53.9%) patients presented with haemorrhages (grade ≥ 3: 7.5%). First-line therapy included prednisone (82.9%), dexamethasone (14.6%), thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TRAs, 1.3%), and oral immunosuppressive agents (1.1%). Prednisone starting dose ≥1 mg/kg/d (p = .01) and dexamethasone 40 mg/d (p < .001) were mainly reserved to patients aged 60–74, who were more treated with rituximab (RTX, p = .02) and splenectomy (p = .03) second-line. Overall response rates to first and second-line therapies were 83.8% and 84.5%, respectively, regardless of age and treatment type/dose. A total of 178 haemorrhages in 101 patients (grade ≥ 3: n. 52, 29.2%; intracranial in 6 patients), 49 thromboses in 43 patients (grade ≥ 3: n. 26, 53.1%) and 115 infections in 94 patients (grade ≥ 3: n. 23, 20%) were observed during follow-up. Incidence rates of complications per 100 patient-years were: 4.5 (haemorrhages, grade ≥ 3: 1.7), 1.7 (thromboses, grade ≥ 3: 0.9), and 3.9 (infections, grade ≥ 3: 0.7). TRAs use were associated with reduced risk of bleeding and infections, while cardiovascular risk factors (particularly, diabetes) significantly predicted thromboses and infections. Conclusions: Age-adapted treatment strategies are required in elderly and very elderly patients.
- Published
- 2020