Humans ; Cyclosporine/therapeutic use* ; Anemia, Aplastic/drug therapy* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Benzoates/therapeutic use*

Objective: To determine the efficacy of eltrombopag for primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults and the predictive factors for treatment-free response (TFR) . Methods: Clinical data of adults with ITP who received eltrombopag from June 14, 2013 to May 31, 2021 in the Hematology Department of Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical College were retrospectively analyzed. The initial dose of eltrombopag was 25 mg/d, and the maximum dose was 75 mg/d; the dose was adjusted to maintain the platelet count to within 50-150×10(9)/L. Treatment was discontinued according either to the protocol, on the patient's wishes or doctor's judgment (prescription medication), or based on clinical trials. The efficacy of eltrombopag and factors for TFR among patients who achieved complete response and those who discontinued treatment were analyzed. Results: Overall, 106 patients with ITP (33 men and 73 women) were included in the study. The median age of patients was 50 (18-89) years. There were 2, 10, and 94 cases of newly diagnosed, persistent, and chronic ITP, respectively. The complete response rate was 44.3% (47/106), the response rate was 34.0% (36/106), and the overall response rate was 78.3% (83/106). Meanwhile, 83 patients who responded to treatment discontinued eltrombopag; of these, 81 patients were evaluated. Additionally, 17 patients (21.0%) achieved TFR. The median follow-up duration of patients who achieved TFR was 126 (30-170) weeks. The recurrence rate was 17.6% (3/17), and the relapse-free survival rate was 76.5%. The results of univariate analysis revealed that non-recurrence after discontinuation of other treatments for ITP (P=0.001), and platelet count and eltrombopag dose of ≥100×10(9)/L (P=0.007) and ≤25 mg/d (P=0.031), respectively, upon discontinuation of eltrombopag were predictors of TFR; these effects were attributed to prolonged effective duration of eltrombopag. Multivariate analysis showed that there was a correlation between non-recurrence and prolonged effective duration after discontinuation of other treatments for ITP (P=0.002) . Conclusion: Eltrombopag is effective for patients with ITP as it can result in TFR. Predictors for TFR include non-recurrence after discontinuation of concomitant ITP treatment, and platelet count and eltrombopag dose of ≥100 × 10(9)/L and ≤25 mg/d upon discontinuation of treatment, respectively.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; China/epidemiology* ; Benzoates/therapeutic use*

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rh-TPO) and eltrombopag are two distinct TPO receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) with different mechanisms. During the pandemic, when immunosuppressive medications are controversial, switching to another TPO-RA may be worth exploring in patients who do not benefit from their first TPO-RA. We investigated the outcomes of switching from rh-TPO to eltrombopag or vice versa in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. METHODS: This prospective, open-label, observational investigation included 96 adult ITP patients who needed to switch between rh-TPO and eltrombopag between January 2020 and January 2021 at Peking University People's Hospital in China. The study evaluated response rates and platelet counts at different time points after the switch, bleeding events, time to response, duration of response, and adverse events. RESULTS: At 6 weeks after switching, response was observed in 21/49 patients (43%) who switched for inefficacy and 34/47 patients (72%) who switched for non-efficacy-related issues. In the inefficacy group, 9/27 patients (33%) responded to eltrombopag, and 12/22 patients (55%) responded to rh-TPO. In the non-efficacy-related group, 21/26 (81%) and 13/21 (62%) patients in the eltrombopag and rh-TPO groups maintained their response rates at 6 weeks after switching, respectively. Response at 6 months was achieved in 24/49 patients (49%) switching for inefficacy and 37/47 patients (79%) switching for non-efficacy issues. In the inefficacy group, 13/27 patients (48%) responded to eltrombopag, and 11/22 patients (50%) responded to rh-TPO. In the non-efficacy-related group, 22/26 patients (85%) and 15/21 patients (71%) in the eltrombopag and rh-TPO groups maintained their response rates at 6 months after switching, respectively. Both eltrombopag and rh-TPO were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the safety and effectiveness of switching between rh-TPO and eltrombopag for ITP patients who had no response to or experienced adverse events with their first TPO-RA. When the switch was motivated by other reasons, including patient preference and platelet count fluctuations, the probability of response was high. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04214951.
Adult ; Humans ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Thrombopoietin/adverse effects* ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Receptors, Fc/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin/therapeutic use* ; Thrombocytopenia/chemically induced* ; Benzoates/adverse effects* ; Hydrazines/adverse effects*

Anemia, Aplastic/drug therapy* ; Benzoates/therapeutic use* ; Cyclosporine/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Hydrazines/therapeutic use* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Pyrazoles/therapeutic use*

BACKGROUNDThe efficacy and safety of telmisartan combined with clopidogrel, leflunomide, or both drugs for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) are unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telmisartan combined with clopidogrel, leflunomide, or both drugs for IgAN.

METHODSIt is a multicenter, prospective, double-dummy randomized controlled trial. Primary IgAN patients were recruited in 13 renal units across Beijing, China, from July 2010 to June 2012. After a 4-week telmisartan (80 mg/d) wash-in, 400 patients continuing on 80 mg/d telmisartan were randomly assigned to additionally receive placebo (Group A), 50 mg/d clopidogrel (Group B), 20 mg/d leflunomide (Group C), or 50 mg/d clopidogrel and 20 mg/d leflunomide (Group D). The 24-week intervention was completed by 360 patients. The primary endpoint was change in 24-h proteinuria at 24 weeks. A linear mixed-effect model was used to analyze the changes at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate changes in hematuria grade. This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

RESULTSThe effects of telmisartan combined with leflunomide on changes in proteinuria (0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.55] g/d, P < 0.001), in serum uric acid (76.96 [95% CI 57.44-96.49] μmol/L, P < 0.001), in serum creatinine (9.49 [95% CI 6.54-12.44] μmol/L, P < 0.001), and in estimated glomerular filtration rate (-6.72 [95% CI-9.46 to -3.98] ml·min-1·1.73 m-2, P < 0.001) were statistically significant, whereas they were not statistically significant on changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and weight (P > 0.05). Telmisartan combined with clopidogrel had no statistical effect on any outcome, and there was no interaction between the interventions. No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONSTelmisartan combined with leflunomide, not clopidogrel, is safe and effective for decreasing proteinuria in certain IgAN patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONchictr.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-10000776; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=8760.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzimidazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Benzoates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; China ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; drug effects ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Isoxazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Ticlopidine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Uric Acid ; blood ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDG-protein β-polypeptide 3 (GNB3) is a β subunit isoform of G-protein that plays important role in signal transduction of membrane G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The GNB3 splice variant C825T (rs5443) is associated with risk for essential hypertension (EH) and efficacy of therapeutic drugs targeting GPCRs. It is unknown whether the polymorphism is associated with blood pressure (BP) response to telmisartan or amlodipine, two widely prescribed antihypertensive drugs.

METHODSA total of 93 subjects initially diagnosed as EH were recruited and underwent a 4-week treatment with telmisartan (42 patients) or amlodipine (51 patients) monotherapy. Both baseline and after-treatment BP were measured. GNB3 C825T polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTSBaseline systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were comparable among C825T genotypes in both telmisartan and amlodipine treatment groups. Patients with the CT or TT genotypes showed significantly lower body mass index (BMI) as compared with CC homozygotes in both groups (P < 0.05, respectively). GNB3 825TT homozygotes showed significantly higher after-treatment DBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) than those carrying at least one 825C allele (P < 0.01) in the telmisartan treatment group. No difference in after-treatment SBP, DBP, and MAP levels among C825T genotypes was observed in the amlodipine treatment group. No significant difference in absolute changes in BP levels was observed among the genotypes in either treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThe GNB3 C825T splice variant is associated with the DBP-lowering effect of telmisartan but not amlodipine in Chinese EH patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Amlodipine ; therapeutic use ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzimidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Genotype ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in aplastic anemia (AA)patients with iron overload.

METHODSA single arm, multi- center, prospective, open- label study was conducted to evaluate absolute change in serum ferritin (SF)from baseline to 12 months of deferasirox administration, initially at a dose of 20 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), and the safety in 64 AA patients with iron overload.

RESULTSAll patients started their deferasirox treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg · kg(-1) ·d(-1). The mean actual dose was (18.6±3.60) mg · kg(-1)·d(-1). The median SF decreased from 4 924 (2 718- 6 765)μg/L at baseline (n=64) to 3 036 (1 474- 5 551)μg/L at 12 months (n=23) with the percentage change from baseline as 38%. A median SF decrease of 651 (126-2 125)μg/L was observed at the end of study in 23 patients who completed 12 months' treatment, the median SF level decreased by 1 167(580-4 806)μg/L [5 271(3 420-8 278)μg/L at baseline; 3 036(1 474-5 551)μg/L after 12 months' treatment; the percentage change from baseline as 42% ] after 12 months of deferasirox treatment. The most common adverse events (AEs) were increased serum creatinine levels (40.98%), gastrointestinal discomfort (40.98%), elevated liver transaminase (ALT: 21.31%; AST: 13.11%)and proteinuria (24.59%). The increased serum creatinine levels were reversible and non-progressive. Of 38 patients with concomitant cyclosporine use, 12(31.8%)patients had two consecutive values >ULN, 10(26.3%)patients had two consecutive values >1.33 baseline values, but only 1(2.6%)patient's serum creatinine increased more than 1.33 baseline values and exceeded ULN. For both AST and ALT, no patients experienced two post- baseline values >5 ×ULN or >10 × ULN during the whole study. In AA patients with low baseline PLT count (less than 50 × 10(9)/L), there was no decrease for median PLT level during 12 months' treatment period.

CONCLUSIONSAA patients with iron overload could achieve satisfactory efficacy of iron chelation by deferasirox treatment. The drug was well tolerated with a clinically manageable safety profile and no major adverse events.

Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Blood Transfusion ; China ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Iron Chelating Agents ; therapeutic use ; Iron Overload ; drug therapy ; Liver ; Prospective Studies ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use

Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of JianpiQinghua decoction in treating stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD3) with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency. Methods A multicenter, randomized, controlled, prospective, double-blind, and double-simulation study was undertaken. A total of 270 CKD3 patients with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency from the outpatient departments of six general hospitals were randomly divided into telmisartan+analog traditional Chinese medicine (TA) group, traditional Chinese medicine+analog telmisartan (TCMA) group, and telmisartan+traditional Chinese medicine (TTCM) group, in which the corresponding treatment was applied in addition to basic treatment. Six months later, changes in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical symptom scores and renal functions before and after treatment were compared among these three groups. Results Of these 270 CKD3 patients who had been enrolled in this study, 30 cases lost to follow-up. The baseline data were comparable among these three groups. After treatment, the TCM clinical symptom scores of both syndrome of spleen-qi deficiency and dampness-heat in TA group were significantly higher than those in TCMA group and TTCM group (P<0.001). With the treatment time prolonged, the TCM clinical symptom scores showed similar descending trends in TCMA group and TTCM group but were different from that in TA group. After treatment, abnormal creatinine rate decreased (P=0.003), and these three treatments and their interactions with each visit had no effect on serum urea nitrogen value (P=0.270, P=0.520); with prolonged treatment, the estimated glomerular filtration rates in three groups tended to be relatively stable after the first rise. The liver function and abnormal serum potassium rate were not statistically significant before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions JianpiQinghua decoction can improve clinical symptoms of TCM in CKD3 patients with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency and thus improve the quality of life and prognosis. The clinical efficacy of JianpiQinghua decoction alone or combined with telmisartan is superior to telmisartan monotherapy.
Benzimidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenshuaining Granule (SG) combined telmisartan on serum creatinine (SCr) levels and urinary albumin contents in diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients, and to explore its efficacy.

METHODSTotally 204 DN patients were recruited, and further assigned to 3 groups, i.e., the early DN group, the clinical stage of DN with normal renal function group, the clinical stage of DN with insufficient renal function group. Patients in the same group were randomly allocated to the telmisartan treatment group, the SG treatment group, and the combination of SG and telmisartan treatment group, 68 in each group. Patients in the telmisartan treatment group took telmisartan tablet, 80 mg per day, once daily. Those in the SG treatment group took SG, 5 g each time, 3 times per day. Those in the combination of SG and telmisartan treatment group took telmisartan tablet (80 mg per day, once daily) and SG (5 g each time, 3 times per day). The therapeutic course for all was 3 successive months. SCr levels, serum urea nitrogen (BUN),24 h urine microalbumin (24 h U-MA) were detected before and after treatment. Results In three different treatment groups, 24 h U-MA decreased after treatment in the telmisartan treatment group; SCr and BUN decreased after treatment in the SG treatment group; and 24 h U-MA, SCr and BUN decreased after treatment in the combination of SG and telmisartan treatment group (P<0.05). In the clinical stage of DN with insufficient renal function group, SCr obviously increased after treatment in the telmisartan treatment group (P <0. 05). In the 3 DN stages, SCr and 24 h U-MA obviously decreased in the combination of SG and telmisartan treatment group, when compared with the telmisartan treatment group and the SG treatment group (P<0.05). Compared with the telmisartan treatment group, SCr and BUN obviously decreased in the SG treatment group, but 24 h U-MA quantitation obviously increased (P<0.05). BUN obviously decreased in the combination of SG and telmisartan treatment group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of SG and telmisartan could decrease urinary albumin, and stabilize SCr levels.

Adult ; Albumins ; metabolism ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzimidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets

BACKGROUNDHypertension is an important issue in Asia, responsible for up to 66% of cardiovascular disease cases. This randomized controlled trial subgroup analysis compared telmisartan 80 mg (T80)/hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg (H25) singlepill combination with T80 monotherapy, specifically in Chinese and Korean patients.

METHODSPatients with grade 2/3 hypertension were randomized to receive telmisartan 40 mg (T40)/hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg (H12.5) combination or T40 monotherapy for one week, before uptitrating the dose to T80/H25 or T80, respectively, for the remaining 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was systolic blood pressure (SBP) mean change from baseline. Secondary endpoints included mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) change from baseline, and blood pressure (BP) goal achievement. Adverse events were recorded.

RESULTSOf a total 888 patients who were treated, efficacy analyses for Chinese and Korean patients included 127 patients treated with T80/H25 and 54 patients treated with T80. At week 7, mean SBP reductions from baseline were -37.5 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) and -26.9 mmHg in the T80/H25 and T80 groups (adjusted mean difference, -10.6 mmHg; 95% confidence interval (CI), -15.6 to -5.7). Mean DBP reductions were -19.0 and -14.1 mmHg in the T80/H25 and T80 groups (adjusted mean difference, -4.9 mmHg; 95% CI, -8.0 to -1.8). In total, 56.7% of patients receiving T80/H25 achieved BP goal (<140/90 mmHg) compared with 35.2% receiving T80. SBP goal attainment (<140 mmHg) and DBP goal attainment (<90 mmHg) were also higher in the T80/H25 group compared with the T80 group (SBP: 69.3% vs. 48.1%; DBP: 62.2% vs. 46.3%). A small number of treatment-related adverse events were observed in both T80/H25 (nine patients, 6.9%) and T80 monotherapy (two patients, 3.6%) groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn Chinese and Korean patients with moderate-to-severe hypertension, treatment with T80/H25 provided large reductions in mean SBP and DBP, and high BP goal attainment rates. This once-daily combination is effective and well tolerated in this patient group.

Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Benzimidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome