Management of Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematologic complication associated with chronic liver disease (CLD) with important clinical implications. While the mechanisms for thrombocytopenia are multifactorial, platelet sequestration in the spleen and decreased thrombopoietin (TPO) production are the main mechanisms in patients with CLD. AIM: This review outlines the current treatment options for thrombocytopenia in patients with CLD, explores their limitations, and proposes a revised treatment algorithm for the management of thrombocytopenia in this patient group. METHODS: A PubMed search of the literature was undertaken with search terms focused on CLD and thrombocytopenia. RESULTS: Until now, the standard-of-care treatment in these patients has been the use of platelet transfusions either prophylactically or periprocedurally to control bleeding. Treatment options, such as splenic artery embolization and splenectomy, are invasive, and their utility is limited by significant complications. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved 2 s-generation TPO-receptor agonists, avatrombopag and lusutrombopag, as safe and effective therapies for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with CLD scheduled to undergo a procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of avatrombopag and lusutrombopag offers physicians an alternative to platelet transfusions in patients with CLD who have to undergo medical/dental procedures that could potentially put them at an increased risk of bleeding. There are several other drugs in the research pipeline at various stages of development, including a new class of monoclonal antibodies that can bind to and activate TPO-receptor agonists. The outlook for treatment choices for thrombocytopenia in patients with liver disease is promising.

publication date

  • April 22, 2019

Research

keywords

  • Liver Diseases
  • Thrombocytopenia

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85064840381

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s10620-019-05615-5

PubMed ID

  • 31011942

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 64

issue

  • 10