Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Management of Adult Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: Our Personal View

Abstract

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired blood disorder that causes a reduction in circulating platelets with the potential for bleeding. The incidence of ITP is slightly higher in adults and affects more women than men until 60 years, when males are more affected. Despite advances in basic science, primary ITP remains a diagnosis of exclusion. The disease is heterogeneous in its clinical behavior and response to treatment. This reflects the complex underlying pathophysiology, which remains ill-understood. Platelet destruction plays a role in thrombocytopenia, but underproduction is also a major contributing factor. Active ITP is a proinflammatory autoimmune disease involving abnormalities within the T and B regulatory cell compartments, along with several other immunological abnormalities. Over the last several years, there has been a shift from using immunosuppressive therapies for ITP towards approved treatments, such as thrombopoietin receptor agonists. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has hastened this management shift, with thrombopoietin receptor agonists becoming the predominant second-line treatment. A greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms has led to the development of several targeted therapies, some of which have been approved, with others still undergoing clinical development. Here we outline our view of the disease, including our opinion about the major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We also discuss our management of adult ITP and our placement of the various available therapies.

Keywords: autoimmune disease; avatrombopag; clinical management; diagnosis; eltrombopag; fostamatinib; immune thrombocytopenia; thrombopoietin receptor agonists.