Dr. Engel on the Future of Eltrombopag in HIV-Related Thrombocytopenia

Elissa Engel, MD, pediatric resident, University of South Florida, discusses the future of eltrombopag (Promacta) in HIV-related thrombocytopenia.

In a case study presented by Engel, a 13-year old patient with HIV and subsequent thrombocytopenia was treated with eltrombopag after showing poor response to first-line therapies including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). The patient showed clinical response and has been asymptomatic since beginning the medication.

Engel says that she hopes this case brings light to the other potential uses of the medication. HIV thrombocytopenia is not a common disease, and the existing first-line therapies may not work for everybody, explains Engel. Further studies are needed to examine whether eltrombopag could receive an FDA indication for this patient population as well as other causes of thrombocytopenia.

Eltrombopag currently has FDA approval in other indications in adult patients, but is only approved for chronic immune thrombocytopenia in kids.