PDSA E-News: November 25, 2015

ITP & PLATELET DISORDERS RESEARCH & TREATMENTS

Remission with Romiplostim Treatment Found in One Third of Primary ITP Patients

There have been positive anecdotal reports that some ITP patients were able to maintain their platelet counts after stopping romiplostim (Nplate®). A phase 2 study examined platelet response rates, remission, splenectomy and adverse events in patients who had primary ITP for less than six months and had received romiplostim less than a year. In the study starting dose of romiplostim was 1 µg/kg. Rescue treatments were permitted to maintain platelet counts. After 12 months, patients with platelet counts ≥ 50,000 had their dose tapered. Dose was decreased as long as their platelet counts were maintained. Remission was a platelet count ≥ 50,000 for 24 consecutive weeks (6 months) with no ITP treatments.

Over the 12 months, patients had a high response rate (90%) and platelet responses occurred quickly (median was ∼ 2 weeks). Responses were observed for 11 months. Overall, remission was observed in 24 ITP patients (32%). There were no significant predictors of remission. Most of the patients (20/24) had remission before the start of the forced taper. The researchers found no new safety signals. They concluded: in early-stage ITP patients romiplostim was well tolerated, brought about rapid responses, and induced remission in one-third of patients.

Newland a, Godeau B, Priego V, et. al. “Remission and platelet responses with romiplostim in primary immune thrombocytopenia: final results from a phase 2 study.” Br J Haematol. 2015, Nov. 5. Doi 10.1111/bjh. 13827 [Epub ahead of print].
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26537623

Case Describes Woman Treated for Breast Cancer Who Developed ITP during Her Chemotherapy

Thrombocytopenia often occurs while patients undergo treatment for solid tumors. Chemotherapy can induce both myelosuppression and myelodysplasia in bone marrow. However, a relationship between ITP and cancer has only rarely been reported in the medical literature. Breast cancer, uncommon in women younger than 30, has an incidence of 117 per 100,000 women aged 40 to 44, and strikes 296 per 100,000 aged 55 to 59. Chronic ITP commonly affects women between 30 and 50 years of age. Association of ITP and breast cancer has previously been reported in only six patients. Five patients were 40 to 60 years of age; two were 69 and 72, respectively when ITP was detected. Five women were successfully managed with common ITP treatments including steroids, IVIg, and/or splenectomy. The sixth was treated only for her breast cancer, with radiotherapy and tamoxifen, and her count returned to normal.

In this reported case study a woman, aged 40, African American, was undergoing her fifth cycle of chemotherapy when she was found to have thrombocytopenia (8,000 platelet count). She had received a combination of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin for cancer treatment. When treated with prednisone her platelet count increased to 51,000. She received her chemotherapy and steroids, as needed, throughout the rest of her treatment. The researchers found that the occurrence of ITP during the treatment course of breast cancer has varied from five months up to six years, so it manifested early in some women and much later in others. At present there have been seven reported cases of ITP occurring in breast cancer patients. Most (6/7) patients responded well to conventional ITP therapies. The researchers concluded the association of breast cancer and ITP may only be coincidental.

Ustun C, Dainer, P, Hendricks L, Bruker T and Burgess R. “Association of Breast Cancer and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.” South Med J. 2002, 95(11).
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/448666
(A Medscape.com account is required to read the full article).

HOSPITALS, INSURANCE & MEDICAL CARE

Patient Safety is Focus during National Healthcare Quality Week

The US Department of Health and Human Services wants you to know the emphasis they place on the importance of patient safety during National Healthcare Quality Week in late October. In the public health, hospital, insurance, and patient self-care sectors of health care, there are various preventative measures that can be taken to achieve the best treatment possible during hospital stays. One in 25 patients will contract an infection while hospitalized every day, but public health agencies are seeking ways to lower this statistic and keep patients safe. These agencies hope to accomplish this through setting guidelines and creating programs to prevent harm to patients, such as medication errors, side effects, and other infections.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals are encouraged to enforce these guidelines through facilitating easier access to health information for the patient and with other physicians, and communicating easy-to-understand knowledge to their patients. It is also important for patients to take safety into their own hands by continuing to ask questions of their healthcare providers about their treatments, surgeries, and other healthcare options. A patient’s own health literacy further ensures positive treatment outcomes.

Ultimately, ITP patients with their low platelet counts are often in and out of hospitals getting treatment. These key issues related to patient safety can help you and your loved ones receive better and more reliable health care.

Wright D, MD, MPH. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2015. “Focusing on Patient Safety During National Health Care Quality Week.” Washington DC: Health.Gov.
http://health.gov/news/blog/2015/10/focusing-on-patient-safety-during-national-healthcare-quality-week/

GENERAL HEALTH & MEDICINE

New US National Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Diet

For the first time in five years, the US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services are releasing an updated version of the national dietary guidelines. These guidelines encourage Americans to eat a “healthful diet—one that focuses on foods and beverages that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight, promote health, and prevent chronic disease.” These new guidelines, based on public comments and recommendations on a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report, will encourage more Americans to consume total dietary fat and ‘healthy fats,’ such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are found in high percentages in olive oil, avocados, and nuts. In fact, this finding is very important for ITP patients, as healthy fats tend to reduce levels of inflammation. The new guidelines also remove dietary cholesterol as a “nutrient of concern,” because of the scientific discovery that dietary cholesterol does not negatively influence blood cholesterol levels or cardiovascular disease.

The new guidelines also encourage more frequent consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, seafood, whole grains, beans, and dairy. The new dietary guidelines continue to discourage meat products, food and beverages high in sugar, and processed grains (such as white bread or crackers).

Ali, Yasmine, MD. How National Dietary Guidelines are Made. 2015. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Improving diagnosis in health care. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
http://obesity.about.com/od/Preventing-Obesity/fl/How-National-Dietary-Guidelines-Are-Made.htm

Special Thanks to our e-News Sponsor: