Longer time to response in hemato-oncological patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): a pilot study

Hemato-oncological diseases have been described as a common cause of secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). So far, studies on patients with active hemato-oncological disease and concurrent ITP are limited, making it difficult to provide clear treatment recommendations. Due to the underlying disease and cancer treatment, this patient population is especially vulnerable. This retrospective, single-center pilot study investigated treatment response and time-to-treatment response in patients with newly diagnosed ITP, comparing those with active hemato-oncological disease, those in remission after malignancy, to those without any underlying malignancy. Comparable response rates to ITP treatment were observed across these groups, including the achievement of platelet counts above 30 G/L and complete response (platelet counts ≥100 G/L). However, patients with an active hematologic-oncological malignancy exhibited a significantly longer time to platelet recovery after initiating steroid therapy. Our preliminary data suggest that standard treatment recommendations for primary ITP may be effective in patients with an active hematologic – oncologic malignancy. However, therapy responses could be significantly delayed, warranting closer monitoring. Given the pilot nature of this study and the limited sample size, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger studies.