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Eltrombopag: A Review of Its Use in the Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

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Abstract

Eltrombopag (Revolade®; Promacta®) is an orally bioavailable, small-molecule, thrombopoietin receptor agonist that selectively binds to thrombopoietin receptors on megakaryocyte precursors and megakaryocytes leading to increased platelet production. It is approved in a number of countries for the treatment of thrombocytopenia, including adult patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to allow for the initiation and maintenance of peginterferon-based therapy, which is the focus of this review. In two, well-designed, randomized controlled trials in adults with chronic HCV infection and thrombocytopenia (ENABLE-1 and ENABLE-2), eltrombopag increased platelet counts to sufficient levels to allow for the initiation of peginterferon-based antiviral therapy in 95 % of patients whose baseline platelet counts would have made them ineligible or marginal candidates for peginterferon therapy. Moreover, a significantly higher proportion of eltrombopag recipients than placebo recipients achieved a sustained virological response (primary endpoint) 24 weeks after the completion of antiviral therapy. Of note, the additional benefit over placebo was relatively small (<10 %). Compared with placebo, eltrombopag was associated with fewer patients discontinuing antiviral therapy early and a numerically greater proportion of patients not requiring antiviral dose reduction. Oral eltrombopag had an acceptable tolerability profile; however, there is an increased risk of adverse events, including potentially fatal hepatic decompensation and thromboembolic events. Eltrombopag provides a new treatment option for thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic HCV infection to allow for optimal antiviral therapy.

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Disclosure

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding. Celeste B. Burness is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the author on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Celeste B. Burness

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  1. Celeste B. Burness
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Correspondence to Celeste B. Burness.

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The manuscript was reviewed by: E. G. Giannini, Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS-Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; A. Iacobellis, Division of Gastroenterology, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; R. Maan, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

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Burness, C.B. Eltrombopag: A Review of Its Use in the Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. Drugs 74, 1961–1971 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-014-0312-7

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