The ‘Stop TPO-RA in ITP Patients’ study: Clinical and immune modulatory effects of romiplostim tapering

Vivianne S. Nelson, Sufia N. Amini, Tanja Netelenbos, Marina S. Kartachova, Roger E.G. Schutgens, Otto Visser, Peter E. Westerweel, Jaap J. Zwaginga, Suzanne Hofstede-van Egmond, Rick Kapur*, Masja de Haas, Leendert Porcelijn, Martin R. Schipperus*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Sustained remissions off-treatment (SROTs) after tapering of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) have been reported in 15%–50% of patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The STIP (Stop TPO-Receptor Agonist in ITP Patients) study is a prospective trial aimed to investigate the clinical effects of romiplostim tapering. Adult patients (22/40) with ITP ≥3 months received romiplostim for 1 year, were tapered and followed for 1 year. Anti-platelet antibodies (APAs), TPO levels and indium-111 platelet scintigraphy were assessed before, during and after romiplostim. Censored survival analysis showed that the probability of SROT at 1 year after tapering was 23.6% (95% confidence interval: 11.0%–50.5%). Patients with SROT had higher platelet levels on romiplostim (median: 332.5 vs. 84.5 × 109/L) and lower romiplostim doses at the start of tapering (median: 1.0 vs. 4.5 μg/kg) compared to those with a non-sustained response (NSR). APAs were detected in 8/25 patients at baseline, of which 5 showed a substantial decrease during romiplostim. The indium-111 scan revealed an improved platelet survival at the start of tapering for 50% of patients with SROT (2/4, missing n = 1) versus none with an NSR (0/14, missing n = 3). Overall, the STIP study demonstrated a probability of SROT of 23.6% in a diverse and largely chronic group of adult patients with ITP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1743-1753
Number of pages11
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume206
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2025

Keywords

  • anti-platelet antibodies
  • immune thrombocytopenia
  • indium-111 platelet scintigraphy
  • thrombopoietin receptor agonist

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