OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of high dose dexamethasone combined with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in adults with severe newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

METHODSForty-eight adult patients with severe ITP were randomized into two groups, experimental group and control group. The patients in experimental group were given high-dose dexamethasone combined with rhTPO treatment, the patients in control group were given single high-dose dexamethasone treatment. Platelet count, platelet increase, as well as the overall response rate were strictly observed in the process. At the same time, the patient's drug tolerance and any adverse drug reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe platelet counts and platelet increase of the patients in experimental group were significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05) at day 3, 7, 14, 30. There was no significant difference in overall response rates between the two groups (34.8% vs 36.0%, 56.5% vs 48.0%, P>0.05) at day 3, 7. The overall response rates of experimental group at day 14, 30 were significantly higher than that of control group (91.3% vs 68.0%, 82.6% vs 52.0%, P<0.05). The muscle aches occurred in one patient in experimental group which was self-recovery without special treatment.

CONCLUSIONrhTPO combined with high-dose dexamethasone could rapidly increase the platelet count, reduce the risk of bleeding, and prolonge the effect with a low incidence of tolerable adverse events compared to single high-dose dexamethasone. rhTPO combined with high-dose dexamethasone could be a new therapeutic choice for severe primary ITP.