A Trial of Eltrombopag or Intravenous Immune Globulin Before Surgery for Immune Thrombocytopenia Patients

Treatment of thromBocytopenia With EltRombopag or Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) Before and DurING Invasive Procedures in Patients With Immune ThrombocytoPenia- BRIDGING ITP Study

This is a study to investigate if eltrombopag can be used instead of Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) in patients with ITP, to adequately raise their platelet count when they undergo minor or major surgery. Eltrombopag is a daily, oral pill approved for treatment of ITP. IVIG is a blood product frequently used to treat ITP. Patients with ITP who need surgery have to get treatment to increase their platelet count. IVIG is commonly used for this purpose but eltrombopag may be more effective and convenient for patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Eltrombopag; Drug: IVIG infusion

Detailed Description

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of platelet autoantibodies, low platelet counts and an increased risk of bleeding. TPO receptor agonists which stimulate platelet production have been shown to be remarkably effective in ITP. Their use as a short-term means of elevating platelet counts in preparation for surgical procedures has not yet been adequately evaluated.

Many patients with moderate to severe ITP (platelet count less than 50 x 10exp9/L) have stable platelet counts and do not bleed; however, when surgeries or invasive procedures become necessary, additional treatment is often required to increase the platelet count to achieve adequate hemostasis. Although specific guidelines for surgical platelet count thresholds in ITP are lacking, platelet transfusion guidelines recommend a platelet count of 50 - 100 x10exp9/L for the vast majority of surgical procedure; 50x10exp9/L is a typical threshold for minor surgeries like tooth extractions and endoscopies; and 100x10exp9/L is used for major surgery like cardiac surgery or neurosurgery.

Commonly, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is used to rapidly increase platelet counts in ITP patients before an invasive procedure. IVIG is associated with a transient platelet count response in approximately 80% of patients, which occurs within 2 - 4 days. In most patients, platelet counts remain elevated for approximately 4 weeks, allowing enough time to complete the procedure and for adequate post-operative hemostasis. However, IVIG is a resource-intensive and expensive blood product associated with frequent side effects.

Eltrombopag is a small molecule, non-peptide thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic ITP who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy. TPO receptor agonists are an effective new class of medications that are non-immunogenic agonists of the TPO receptor (c-Mpl) and work by increasing platelet production in ITP patients. In randomized controlled trials, eltrombopag maintenance therapy has been shown to raise the platelet count in 60 - 80% of ITP patients and platelet counts generally remain elevated as long as the drug is continued. Time to response is 1 - 2 weeks with minimal need for dose titration. Side effects of eltrombopag observed in clinical studies included elevation of liver enzymes (approximately 10% of patients). The risk of thrombosis and bone marrow reticulin formation remain uncertain.

The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 74 patients (across approximately 8 centers) in Canada. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag bridging therapy compared with IVIG bridging therapy in adult patients with ITP who require surgery. This study will also evaluate bleeding, adverse events and patient-reported treatment satisfaction using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM). Patients will be stratified according to centre and surgery type (major vs. minor).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 74
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Alberta
    • Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G2G3
      • University of Alberta Hospital
  • British Columbia
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z1M9
      • Vancouver General Hospital
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 3Z5
      • Hamilton Health Sciences
    • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A5W9
      • London Health Sciences Center
    • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H8L6
      • Ottawa Hospital
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N3M5
      • Sunnybrook Hospital
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B1W8
      • St.Micheal's Hospital
  • Quebec
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H1T2M4
      • Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T1E2
      • Jewish General Hospital
• Netherlands
  • The Hague, Netherlands
    • The HAGA Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary or secondary ITP;
• Platelet count below surgical platelet count threshold (50 x10^9/L for minor surgery; 100 x 10^9/L for major surgery);
• 18 years of age or older;
• On stable doses of concomitant ITP medications (i.e the dose administered has not changed) or no ITP medication for at least 2 weeks;
• At least 3-weeks lead time available between randomization and scheduled surgery;
• IVIG and Eltrombopag are acceptable ITP treatment options for this patient;
• Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Treatment with IVIG within the last 2 weeks;
• Treatment with a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (eltrombopag or romiplostim) within the last 4 weeks;
• AST, ALT above 2X upper limit of normal;
• Bilirubin above 1.5X upper limit of normal in the absence of clinically benign liver disorder (eg. Gilberts syndrome);
• Deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, thrombotic stroke or arterial thrombosis in the last 12 months;
• History of bone marrow reticulin or fibrosis;
• Known liver cirrhosis;
• Active malignancy (defined as requiring treatment or palliation within the last 6 months);
• Any additional laboratory test result, health related illness or other diagnosis which, in the opinion of the treating physician, may put the subject's health or safety at risk.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Eltrombopag; Eltrombopag is a small molecule, non-peptide thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic ITP who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy. TPO receptor agonists are an effective new class of medications that are non-immunogenic agonists of the TPO receptor (c-Mpl) and work by increasing platelet production in ITP patients.	Drug: Eltrombopag; Participants are started on 50mg daily oral pill (or 25mg daily for patients of East Asian descent) 21 days before surgery. Dose may be adjusted based on subsequent platelet counts (minimum 25mg; maximum 75mg).; Other Names: Revolade
Active Comparator: IVIG infusion; Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is used to rapidly increase platelet counts in ITP patients. IVIG is associated with a transient platelet count response in approximately 80% of patients, which occurs within 2 - 4 days. It is commonly used to improve platelet count numbers prior to surgery for patients with ITP.	Drug: IVIG infusion; IVIG infusion (1-2 g/kg) given 7 (+/-2) days prior to surgery; with an additional infusion allowed within one week of achievement of surgical hemostasis, if needed; Other Names: Intravenous Immunoglobulin; IgG

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Achievement of a platelet count level that is above the platelet count threshold for surgery preoperatively and that is maintained above the threshold during the post-hemostasis period without the use of rescue treatment	Threshold is a platelet count of 50 x 10^9/L for minor surgery and 100 x 10^9/L for major surgery.	For a the period of time from the final pre-operative visit until 7 days after surgical hemostasis is achieved

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to treatment failure	Time to the occurrence of a platelet count level below the designated threshold, or the administration of rescue treatment	During the period from the final pre-operative visit until 7 days after surgical hemostasis is achieved
Surgical delays or cancellations	Proportion of patients with surgical delays or cancellations	Measured at time of planned surgery
Bleeding	Graded as per the ITP bleeding score	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)
Thrombocytosis	Platelet count >400 x 10^9/L	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)
Blood product transfusions	Proportion of patients requiring platelet, red blood cells and plasma transfusions	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)
Rescue treatment	New ITP treatment (typically platelet transfusions, high dose IVIG or high dose corticosteroids) or an increased dose of existing ITP treatment administered to increase platelet counts above threshold	During the period from the final pre-operative visit until 7 days after surgical hemostasis is achieved
Platelet count change over time	Trend of all platelet count measurements in the trial	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)
Patient satisfaction with treatment	Assessed using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications Score vII (which incorporates effectiveness, convenience, side effects, and overall satisfaction)	Immediately before surgery (final pre-op visit) and 7 days (+/- 2 days) after surgical hemostasis is achieved
Hospitalizations	Unanticipated admissions to hospital or prolongation of hospitalization	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)
Thrombosis	Symptomatic thrombotic events confirmed with diagnostic imaging	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)
Adverse Events	Defined using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0	During treatment and follow up (on average, 8 weeks from starting treatment)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: McMaster University
• Collaborators: GlaxoSmithKline; Novartis; Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Donald M Arnold, MD MSc, McMaster University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Arnold DM, Heddle NM, Cook RJ, Hsia C, Blostein M, Jamula E, Sholzberg M, Lin Y, Kassis J, Larratt L, Tinmouth A, Amini S, Schipperus M, Lim W, Vishnu P, Warner M, Carruthers J, Li N, Lane S, Kelton JG. Perioperative oral eltrombopag versus intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with immune thrombocytopenia: a non-inferiority, multicentre, randomised trial. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Sep;7(9):e640-e648. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30227-1.
• Arnold DM, Jamula E, Heddle NM, Cook RJ, Hsia C, Sholzberg M, Lin Y, Kassis J, Blostein M, Larratt L, Amini S, Schipperus M, Carruthers J, Lane SJ, Li N, Kelton JG. Peri-Operative Eltrombopag or Immune Globulin for Patients with Immune Thrombocytopaenia (The Bridging ITP Trial): Methods and Rationale. Thromb Haemost. 2019 Mar;119(3):500-507. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1677531. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): June 18, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 9, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 4, 2020
• Last Verified: September 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Immune; IVIG; Bleeding; Platelets; ITP; Eltrombopag; Thrombocytopenia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Immune System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Hemorrhage; Hemorrhagic Disorders; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Skin Manifestations; Blood Platelet Disorders; Thrombotic Microangiopathies; Purpura; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic; Thrombocytopenia; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Immunologic Factors; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; gamma-Globulins; Rho(D) Immune Globulin
• Other Study ID Numbers: M-EIBS-A-12