A Real-Life Turkish Experience of Ruxolitinib in Polycythemia Vera

Introduction:Ruxolitinib is a small -molecule inhibitor of the JAK1/2 pathway. This study aimed to reveal the results and side-effect profile of the use of ruxolitinib as a treatment option in polycythemia vera (PV).Methods:A total of 34 patients with PV from 18 different centers were included in the study. The evaluation of the response under treatment with ruxolitinib was determined as a reduction in spleen volume (splenomegaly size: ≥35%) by imaging and control of hematocrit levels (≤45%) compared to baseline.Results:While the number of patients in which a reduction in spleen volume and hematocrit control was achieved was 19 (55.9%) at 3 months of treatment, it was 21 (61.8%) at 6 months. Additionally, while the number of side effects was negatively correlated with the reduction in spleen volume (Spearman’s rho: -0.365, p=0.034), a decrease in the hematocrit level was positively correlated (Spearman’s rho: 0.75, p=0.029). Those without a reduction in spleen volume experienced more constipation (chi-square: 5.988, Fisher’s exact test: p=0.033).Conclusion:This study shed light on the use of ruxolitinib in PV and the importance of splenomegaly on studies planned with larger patient groups

The Turkish perspective on apheresis activity: The Turkish apheresis registry report

Therapeutic apheresis is an extracorporeal treatment that selectively removes abnormal cells or harmful substances in the blood that are associated with or cause certain diseases. During the last decades the application of therapeutic apheresis has expanded to a broad spectrum of hematological and non-hematological diseases due to various studies on the clinical efficacy of this procedure. In this context there are more than 30 centers performing therapeutic apheresis and registered in the apheresis database in Turkey. Herein, we, The Turkish Apheresis Registry, aimed to analyze some key articles published so far from Turkey regarding the use of apheresis for various indications

A Multi-Center Study on the Efficacy of Eltrombopag in Management of Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Materials and Methods: A total of 285 chronic ITP patients (187 women, 65.6%; 98 men, 34.4%) followed in 55 centers were enrolled in this retrospective cohort. Response to treatment was assessed according to platelet count (/mm3) and defined as complete (platelet count of >100,000/mm3), partial (30,000-100,000/mm3 or doubling of platelet count after treatment), or unresponsive (<30,000/mm3). Clinical findings, descriptive features, response to treatment, and side effects were recorded. Correlations between descriptive, clinical, and hematological parameters were analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 43.9±20.6 (range: 3-95) years and the duration of follow-up was 18.0±6.4 (range: 6-28.2) months. Overall response rate was 86.7% (n=247). Complete and partial responses were observed in 182 (63.8%) and 65 (22.8%) patients, respectively. Thirty-eight patients (13.4%) did not respond to eltrombopag treatment. For patients above 60 years old (n=68), overall response rate was 89.7% (n=61), and for those above 80 years old (n=12), overall response rate was 83% (n=10). Considering thrombocyte count before treatment, eltrombopag significantly increased platelet count at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th weeks of treatment. As the time required for partial or complete response increased, response to treatment was significantly reduced. The time to reach the maximum platelet levels after treatment was quite variable (1-202 weeks). Notably, the higher the maximum platelet count after eltrombopag treatment, the more likely that side effects would occur. The most common side effects were headache (21.6%), weakness (13.7%), hepatotoxicity (11.8%), and thrombosis (5.9%). Conclusion: Results of the current study imply that eltrombopag is an effective therapeutic option even in elderly patients with chronic ITP. However, patients must be closely monitored for response and side effects during treatment. Since both response and side effects may be variable throughout the follow-up period, patients should be evaluated dynamically, especially in terms of thrombotic risk factors.PubMedWoSScopu

A Multi-Center Study on the Efficacy of Eltrombopag in Management of Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Real-Life Experience

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)

A Multi-Center Study on the Efficacy of Eltrombopag in Management of Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Real-Life Experience

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Materials and Methods: A total of 285 chronic ITP patients (187 women, 65.6 \%; 98 men, 34.4\%) followed in 55 centers were enrolled in this retrospective cohort. Response to treatment was assessed according to platelet count (/mm(3)) and defined as complete (platelet count of >100,000/mm(3)), partial (30,000-100,000/mm(3) or doubling of platelet count after treatment), or unresponsive (<30,000/mm(3)). Clinical findings, descriptive features, response to treatment, and side effects were recorded. Correlations between descriptive, clinical, and hematological parameters were analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 43.9 +/- 20.6 (range: 3-95) years and the duration of follow-up was 18.0 +/- 6.4 (range: 6-28.2) months. Overall response rate was 86.7\% (n=247). Complete and partial responses were observed in 182 (63.8\%) and 65 (22.8\%) patients, respectively. Thirty-eight patients (13.4\%) did not respond to eltrombopag treatment. For patients above 60 years old (n=68), overall response rate was 89.7\% (n=61), and for those above 80 years old (n=12), overall response rate was 83\% (n=10). Considering thrombocyte count before treatment, eltrombopag significantly increased platelet count at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th weeks of treatment. As the time required for partial or complete response increased, response to treatment was significantly reduced. The time to reach the maximum platelet levels after treatment was quite variable (1-202 weeks). Notably, the higher the maximum platelet count after eltrombopag treatment, the more likely that side effects would occur. The most common side effects were headache (21.6\%), weakness (13.7\%), hepatotoxicity (11.8\%), and thrombosis (5.9\%). Conclusion: Results of the current study imply that eltrombopag is an effective therapeutic option even in elderly patients with chronic ITP. However, patients must be closely monitored for response and side effects during treatment. Since both response and side effects may be variable throughout the follow-up period, patients should be evaluated dynamically, especially in terms of thrombotic risk factors