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Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common autoimmune hematological disorder. Despite this, diagnosis is still challenging due to clinical heterogeneity and the lack of a specific diagnostic test. New findings in the pathology and the availability of new drugs have led to the development of different guidelines worldwide. In the present study, the Delphi methodology has been used to get a consensus on the management of adult patients with ITP in Spain and to help in decision-making. The Delphi questionnaire has been designed by a scientific ad hoc committee and has been divided into 13 topics, with a total of 127 items, covering the maximum possible scenarios for the management of ITP. As a result of the study, a total consensus of 81% has been reached. It is concluded that this Delphi consensus provides practical recommendations on topics related to diagnosis and management of ITP patients to help doctors to improve outcomes. Some aspects remain unclear, without consensus among the experts. Thus, more advances are needed to optimize ITP management.

There are not many publications that provide a holistic view of the management of primary and secondary ITP as a whole, reflecting the similarities and differences between the two. Given the lack of major clinical trials, we believe that comprehensive reviews are much needed to guide the diagnosis and treatment of ITP today. Therefore, our review addresses the contemporary diagnosis and treatment of ITP in adult patients. With respect to primary ITP we especially focus on establishing the management of ITP based on the different and successive lines of treatment. Life-threatening situations, "bridge therapy" to surgery or invasive procedures and refractory ITP are also comprehensively reviewed here. Secondary ITP is studied according to its pathogenesis by establishing three major differential groups: Immune Thrombocytopenia due to Central Defects, Immune Thrombocytopenia due to Blocked Differentiation and Immune Thrombocytopenia due to Defective Peripheral Immune Response. Here we provide an up-to-date snapshot of the current diagnosis and treatment of ITP, including a special interest in addressing rare causes of this disease in our daily clinical practice. The target population of this review is adult patients only and the target audience is medical professionals., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Tomás José González-López has received research grants from Amgen and Novartis and speaker honoraria from Amgen, Novartis, Sobi, Grifols and Argenx. Drew Provan has received research support and honoraria from Amgen and Novartis and has acted as a consultant for UCB, MedImmune, Ono and Takeda. Dr. Jarque-Ramos reports consulting honorarium from Amgen, Novartis and Shionogi. Rest of authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disease with highly variable presentation, characteristics, and clinical course. Thrombocytopenia is a common complication of many viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. In addition, both de novo ITP and exacerbation of ITP after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 have been reported. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop a prothrombotic coagulopathy called COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC). In addition, autoimmune hematological disorders secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection, mainly ITP and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), have been described. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with exacerbation of autoimmune processes, including ITP. In fact, there is evidence of a high relapse rate in patients with preexisting ITP and COVID-19. As for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, hematological adverse events (HAE) are practically anecdotal. The most common HAE is thrombocytopenia-associated thrombosis syndrome (TTS) linked to vectored virus vaccines. Other HAEs are very rare, but should be considered in patients with previous complement activation disease or autoimmunity. In patients with ITP who are vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the main complication is exacerbation of ITP and the bleeding that may result. In fact, this complication occurs in 12% of patients, with splenectomized and refractory patients with more than five lines of previous treatment and platelet counts below 50 × 10 9 /L being the most vulnerable. We conclude that, in general, there is no greater risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in ITP patients than in the general population. Furthermore, no changes are advised in patients with stable ITP, the use of immunosuppressants is discouraged unless there is no other therapeutic option, and patients with ITP are not contraindicated for vaccination against COVID-19., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Diagnosis of Wilson disease (WD) is difficult and, as early detection may prevent all symptoms, it is essential to know the exact prevalence to evaluate the cost-efficacy of a screening program. As the number of WD patients was high in our population, we wished to estimate prevalence by determining the carrier frequency for clinically relevant ATP7B mutations., Methods: To estimate prevalence, screening for the most prevalent mutation was performed in 1661 individuals with ancestry in Gran Canaria, and the frequency of other mutations was estimated from patient records. Alternatively, ATP7B mutations were detected from exomes and genomes from 851 individuals with Canarian ancestry, 236 from Gran Canaria, and a public Spanish exome database., Results: Estimated carrier frequencies in Gran Canaria ranged from 1 in 20 to 28, depending on the method used, resulting in prevalences of 1 case per 1547 to 3140 inhabitants. Alternatively, the estimated affected frequencies were 1 in 5985 to 7980 and 1 in 6278 to 16,510 in the archipelago or mainland Spain respectively., Conclusions: The number of carriers predicts much higher prevalences than reported, suggesting that WD is underdiagnosed; specific mutations may remain unnoticed due to low penetrance or no signs of disease at all; regional prevalence rather than national prevalence should be considered in cost-efficacy models to approach preventive screening in the asymptomatic population and genetic screening strategies will have to deal with the genetic heterogeneity of ATP7B in the general population and in patients., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

The role of inorganic elements as risk factors for stroke has been suggested. We designed a case-control study to explore the role of 45 inorganic elements as factors associated with stroke in 92 patients and 83 controls. Nineteen elements were detected in >80% of patients and 21 were detected in >80% of controls. Blood level of lead was significantly higher among patients (11.2 vs. 9.03 ng/mL) while gold and cerium were significantly higher among controls (0.013 vs. 0.007 ng/mL; and 18.0 vs. 15.0 ng/mL). Lead was associated with stroke in univariate and multivariate analysis (OR = 1.65 (95% CI, 1.09-2.50) and OR = 1.91 (95% CI, 1.20-3.04), respectively). Gold and cerium showed an inverse association with stroke in multivariate analysis (OR = 0.81 (95% CI, 0.69-0.95) and OR = 0.50 (95% CI, 0.31-0.78)). Future studies are needed to elucidate the potential sources of exposure and disclose the mechanisms of action.

Background: Eltrombopag is useful for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, results of clinical trials may not accurately mirror clinical practice reality. Here we evaluated eltrombopag for primary and secondary ITP in our ≥65-year-old population., Methods: A total of 106 primary ITP patients (16 with newly diagnosed ITP, 16 with persistent ITP, and 74 with chronic ITP) and 39 secondary ITP patients (20 with ITP secondary to immune disorders, 7 with ITP secondary to infectious diseases, and 12 with ITP secondary to lymphoproliferative disorders [LPD]) were retrospectively evaluated., Results: Median age of our cohort was 76 (interquartile range, IQR, 70-81) years. 75.9% of patients yielded a platelet response including 66.2% complete responders. Median time to platelet response was 14 (IQR, 8-21) days. Median time on response was 320 (IQR, 147-526) days. Sixty-three adverse events (AEs), mainly grade 1-2, occurred. The most common were hepatobiliary laboratory abnormalities (HBLAs) and headaches. One transient ischemic attack in a newly diagnosed ITP and two self-limited pulmonary embolisms in secondary ITP were the only thrombotic events observed., Conclusion: Eltrombopag showed efficacy and safety in ITP patients aged ≥65 years with primary and secondary ITP. However, efficacy results in LPD-ITP were poor. A relatively high number of deaths were observed., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Canary Islands are one of the outermost regions of the European Union (EU), which are located barely 100 km from the coasts of Morocco. Although these islands are located in Africa, the degree of socioeconomic development and lifestyle in this archipelago is comparable to that of any other region of Europe. It is well established that the main determinants of human exposure to elements have to do both, with their place of residence and with habits related to their lifestyle. For this reason, we wanted to study the pattern of contamination by elements of these two populations so geographically close, but so different both in their lifestyle, and the geological origin of the territory where they live. Thus, we have determined the blood concentrations of 47 elements (including 25 rare earth elements (REE) and other minority elements (ME) widely employed in the hi-tech industry) in a paired sample of Moroccans (n = 124) and Canary Islands inhabitants (n = 120). We found that the levels of iron, selenium, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, strontium, and specially lead, were significantly higher in Moroccans than in Canarians, probably due to the intensive mining activity in this country. We also found significantly higher levels of the sum of REE and ME in Moroccans than in Canarians, possibly related to the inappropriate management of e-waste in this country. On the other hand, in the inhabitants of the Canary Islands we found higher levels of manganese, probably related to a higher degree of exposure to heavy traffic and exposure to Saharan dust of the people living in this region, and niobium and bismuth, probably related to the higher economic development in these islands. Our results indicate that the vicinity of both territories is not a major determinant of each other's contamination., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Eltrombopag is safe and effective in primary chronic ITP. However, lack of clinical trials avoids a clear demonstration of its utility in newly diagnosed and persistent ITP. Our aim here is to report Spanish results for this type of patients. We retrospectively evaluated 220 adult primary ITP patients. According to standard definition, patients were allocated to newly diagnosed (n = 30), persistent (n = 30), and chronic (n = 160) ITP. Groups were homogenous regarding most relevant parameters. 180 (90%) of 220 patients achieved a platelet response (R) with 167 (75.9%) complete responses (CR) after a 15-month follow-up. No statistical significant differences among groups but a trend towards a greater efficacy in newly diagnosed ITP were observed (93.3% of responses with 86.7% of CR). Efficacy in persistent ITP (83.3% of responses with 80.0% of CR) and chronic ITP (79.4% of responses with 73.1% of CR) was similar. 70 patients (31.8%) experienced adverse events. 15 of them were grade 3-4. Most common adverse effects were headache and hepatobiliary laboratory abnormalities (HBLAs). One persistent ITP had a venous thrombosis and one chronic ITP had grade II myelofibrosis. We consider Eltrombopag use for the early stage ITP as effective and safe as it is in chronic ITP.

Objective: To describe the reasons for and result of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) switching in adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients of 4 Spanish centres., Methods: We retrospectively analysed all patients who received sequential treatment with both TPO-RA between 2010 and 2015 recording clinical and biological parameters., Results: Twenty-six patients were included; 17 received first romiplostim and 9 received first eltrombopag. Reasons for switching were inefficacy (n = 10), patient preference (n = 8), side effects (n = 5) and excessive platelet count fluctuation (n = 3). When the switch was due to inefficacy, 100% of patients who received romiplostim first and 66% who received eltrombopag first responded to the second drug. It is significant that none of the patients who received romiplostim first reached the maximum recommended dose before switching. When the change was due to patient preference or because of side effects, 100% of the patients responded to both TPO-RA. Three patients changed from romiplostim to eltrombopag due to platelet count fluctuation; one did not respond and the fluctuation persisted in the remaining 2 patients. We also found 4 sustained remissions after administering the second TPO-RA, 2 of these with inefficacy of the first drug., Conclusion: TPO-RA switching is a feasible strategy in different scenarios with high probability of success., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The thrombopoietin receptor agonists (THPO-RAs), romiplostim and eltrombopag, are effective and safe in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, the value of their sequential use when no response is achieved or when adverse events occur with one THPO-RA has not been clearly established. Here we retrospectively evaluated 51 primary ITP adult patients treated with romiplostim followed by eltrombopag. The median age of our cohort was 49 (range, 18-83) years. There were 32 women and 19 men. The median duration of romiplostim use before switching to eltrombopag was 12 (interquartile range 5-21) months. The reasons for switching were: lack of efficacy (n = 25), patient preference (n = 16), platelet-count fluctuation (n = 6) and side-effects (n = 4). The response rate to eltrombopag was 80% (41/51), including 67% (n = 35) complete responses. After a median follow-up of 14 months, 31 patients maintained their response. Efficacy was maintained after switching in all patients in the patient preference, platelet-count fluctuation and side-effect groups. 33% of patients experienced one or more adverse events during treatment with eltrombopag. We consider the use of eltrombopag after romiplostim for treating ITP to be effective and safe. Response to eltrombopag was related to the cause of romiplostim discontinuation., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Eltrombopag is effective and safe in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Some patients may sustain their platelet response when treatment is withdrawn but the frequency of this phenomenon is unknown. We retrospectively evaluated 260 adult primary ITP patients (165 women and 95 men; median age, 62 years) treated with eltrombopag after a median time from diagnosis of 24 months. Among the 201 patients who achieved a complete remission (platelet count >100 × 10(9) /l), eltrombopag was discontinued in 80 patients. Reasons for eltrombopag discontinuation were: persistent response despite a reduction in dose over time (n = 33), platelet count >400 × 10(9) /l (n = 29), patient's request (n = 5), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (n = 3), diarrhea (n = 3), thrombosis (n = 3), and other reasons (n = 4). Of the 49 evaluable patients, 26 patients showed sustained response after discontinuing eltrombopag without additional ITP therapy, with a median follow-up of 9 (range, 6-25) months. These patients were characterized by a median time since ITP diagnosis of 46.5 months, with 4/26 having ITP < 1 year. Eleven patients were male and their median age was 59 years. They received a median of 4 previous treatment lines and 42% were splenectomized. No predictive factors of sustained response after eltrombopag withdrawal were identified. Platelet response following eltrombopag cessation may be sustained in an important percentage of adult primary ITP patients who achieved CR with eltrombopag. However, reliable markers for predicting which patients will have this response are needed., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: To analyse the survival from diagnosis to blastic crisis, as well as the causes of death and the significance of different features in patients diagnosed of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML)., Material and Methods: The series includes 98 patients who died of CML in Asturias Central Hospital and other nearby hospital between 1970 and 1990. The CML diagnosis had been established according to conventional criteria. The blastic crisis was diagnosed in accordance with morphologic and cytochemical studies, complemented in some cases with the assay of TdT or other markers. The Kaplan-Meier curves and long-rank test were applied to the statistical analysis of survival. The prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate correlation., Results: The series' mean age was 48.57 years (range: 6-90) and the M/F ratio was 56/42. Cytogenetic study had been performed in 35 patients, of whom 33 had the Ph' chromosome. Death occurred in the blastic crisis in 67 cases (72%), in the accelerated phase in 14 cases (15%) and in the chronic phase in 12 cases (13%). The cause of death could be determined in 47 cases; of them, 24 (51%) died of infection, 11 (23.4%) of haemorrhage, and the remaining 12 (25.6%) of different complications. The median survival of the group as a whole was 32 months (range: 4-137). For the blastic crisis this figure was reduced to 2.5 months (range: 1-14), the lymphoid forms doing better, 5 months, than the non-lymphoid ones; 1.5 months (p < 0.03). Out of the data evaluated at diagnosis, only haemoglobin and the percentage of blast cells in peripheral blood showed any correlation with survival (r = +0.28, p < 0.05 for haemoglobin, and r = -0.30, p < 0.01 for blast cells)., Conclusions: (1) Although most patients die from infection or haemorrhage during the blast crisis, CML increases the risk of death in the accelerated and chronic stages as well. (2) Non-lymphoid blastic crisis has poorer prognosis than the lymphoid form. (3) The concentration of blast cells and haemoglobin in peripheral blood at diagnosis acquire prognostic significance in the present study.

From a sample of 759 transfusions requests (2123 Units) for 392 patients, evaluated by retrospective audits the incidence of inappropriate transfusion at our Hospital was found to be 25.8% of request, affecting 23.3% of units and 39.3% of patients. The most frequent causes were: non-surgical and surgical use of whole blood in patients without hypovolaemia, use of fresh frozen plasma in patients with normal coagulation study red blood cells transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia and haematocrit of 24-30% without risk factors, surgical overtransfusion and prophylactic platelet transfusion in patients with platelet count above 20 x 10(9)/L. 17.3% of units could have been saved, and 32.3% of patients were overexposed or unnecessarily exposed to the risks inherent in any transfusion.