OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) for treatment of patients with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

METHODSThe clinical data of 96 patients with newly diagnosed ITP from August 2013 to August 2015 were analyzed retrospectively, 96 patients were divided into the rhTPO group (46 cases) and the control group (50 cases). Patients in the rhTPO group received subcutaneous injection of rhTPO at a dose of 300 U/(kg·d) for a maximum of 14 days, and control group was treated with glucocorticoid (standard dose) for 28 days. Then the efficacy and adverse reactions between the 2 groups were compared.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the patients in rhTPO group achieved higher complete response (CR) rate (56.5% vs 34.0%) (P = 0.03), shorter median time when platelet counts reached 100 × 10(9)/L[10 (5-14) d vs 14 (6-26) d, P < 0.01] and less adverse reactions (4.4% vs 82.0%) (P < 0.01). After the withdrawal of rhTPO, platelet counts gradually decreased. Sex, age and the presence of HP infection had no influence on efficacy of rhTPO (P > 0.10), but when Plt count was too low (≤10 × 10(9)/L), the proportion of patients obtaining CR showed an decreased tendency, as compared with those with Plt>10 × 10(9)/L (38.9% vs 67.9%) (P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONrhTPO has satisfactory therapeutic effect and enough safety for patients with newly diagnosed ITP, however, its long-term efficacy should be furtherly improved.