Complete recovery from refractory ITP in three patients treated with Enbrel (etanercept)

[Guest guest]

Am J Hematol. 2003 Jun;73(2):135-40.

Comment in:

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2003 Oct;5(5):381.

Complete recovery from refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura in

three patients treated with etanercept.

McMinn JR Jr, Cohen S, J, Lilly S, Parkhurst J, Tarantino MD,

Terrell DR, JN.

Hematology-Oncology Section, Department of Medicine, University of

Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190, USA.

Management of patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who

have persistent, severe, and symptomatic thrombocytopenia following

splenectomy is difficult and empirical. No single agent or regimen

provides long-term success for most patients, and for most treatments it

is difficult to assess whether benefits outweigh risks. We report three

consecutive patients with critical chronic refractory ITP, who responded

promptly and completely following treatment with etanercept, an

inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These patients had failed 6-11

previous treatments. In the first patient, etanercept was given for its

approved indication: a flare of co-existing rheumatoid arthritis. The

next two patients were treated with etanercept because of successful

outcomes in the previous patients. Although etanercept appeared to be

effective treatment for ITP in these 3 patients, the experimental nature

of this treatment and the potential risks must be emphasized. On the

basis of these case reports, a clinical trial has been initiated to

systematically evaluate the efficacy and risks of etanercept in the

management of children and adults with chronic ITP. Copyright 2003

Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 12749017

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org