The symptoms in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) after COVID-19 onset remain largely unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the platelet count fluctuations in ITP patients following the diagnosis of COVID-19. A prospective multicentre observational study was conducted from December 15th, 2022, to January 31st, 2023 in 39 general hospitals across China. Patients with preexisting primary ITP who were newly diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled. A total of 1216 ITP patients with newly-diagnosed COVID-19 were enrolled. 375 (30.8%) patients experienced ITP exacerbation within eight weeks after the diagnosis of COVID-19, and most exacerbation (266/375, 70.9%) developed in the first two weeks. Immunosuppressive therapy for ITP and severe/critical COVID-19 infection were independent variables associated with ITP exacerbation. Overall the platelet count had a transient increasing trend, and the platelet peak value occurred at two weeks after COVID-19 infection. Then, the platelet count decreased to the baseline level in the following weeks. The platelet count had a transient increasing trend in ITP patients following the diagnosis of COVID-19. ITP exacerbation only occurred in less than one-third of ITP patients. Nonimmunosuppressive therapy may have an advantage to prevent ITP exacerbation during COVID-19.

>Dear Editor,Polycythemia, defined by an elevated red blood cell (RBC) count and increased hemoglobin (Hb) levels, is not typically associated with leukocytosis or thrombocytosis (Lund and Anholm, 1957). Familial erythrocytosis (FE), also known as primary FE, has been linked to mutations in the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), as identified in early research (Vo?anec et al., 2019). Secondary FE, on the other hand, arises from abnormal regulation of hematopoietic progenitor cells due to erythropoiesis-promoting factors.

Background:Multiple trials have confirmed that romiplostim could increase platelet count in individuals with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but no related study has assessed Chinese patients. Objectives:To assess the effectiveness of romiplostim as a second-line treatment of persistent or chronic ITP in Chinese adults. Methods:This phase III multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, then open-label clinical trial (NCT02868099, CTR20150395) was conducted at 28 investigational sites in China. The patients were randomly assigned (3:1) to romiplostim (starting and maximum doses of 1 and 10 μg/kg, respectively) or placebo for 9 weeks (double-blind period), followed by the open-label period (both groups administered romiplostim) to week 22. The primary endpoint was the time (in weeks) during which platelet counts were ≥50 × 109/L in the double-blind period. Results:In this study, 202 patients (romiplostim, n = 151; placebo, n = 51) started the treatment. The median (range) numbers of weeks with platelet response after 6 weeks of treatment were 2 (0-6) and 0 (0-2) in patients administered romiplostim and placebo, respectively (P < .001). During the double-blind period, the proportions of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events were comparable between the romiplostim and placebo groups (82.8% vs 82.4%). The treatment-emergent adverse event with ≥10% difference in incidence between these 2 groups was injection site bleeding (1.3% vs 11.8%). Conclusion:Romiplostim significantly increased the time with maintained platelet response in patients with persistent or chronic ITP in comparison with placebo. No new safety signal was observed. Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02868099. www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/clinicaltrials.searchlist.dhtml, CTR20150395.

Rare but critical bleeding events in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) present life-threatening complications in patients with ITP, which severely affect their prognosis, quality of life, and treatment decisions. Although several studies have investigated the risk factors related to critical bleeding in ITP, large sample size data, consistent definitions, large-scale multicenter findings, and prediction models for critical bleeding events in patients with ITP are unavailable. For the first time, in this study, we applied the newly proposed critical ITP bleeding criteria by the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis for large sample size data and developed the first machine learning (ML)-based online application for predict critical ITP bleeding. In this research, we developed and externally tested an ML-based model for determining the risk of critical bleeding events in patients with ITP using large multicenter data across China. Retrospective data from 8 medical centers across the country were obtained for model development and prospectively tested in 39 medical centers across the country over a year. This system exhibited good predictive capabilities for training, validation, and test datasets. This convenient web-based tool based on a novel algorithm can rapidly identify the bleeding risk profile of patients with ITP and facilitate clinical decision-making and reduce the occurrence of adversities.

Introduction Omfiloctocog alfa, the first China-developed recombinant factor VIII (FVIII), demonstrated efficacy and safety of prophylaxis in previously treated patients (PTPs) aged >= 12 years with severe hemophilia A in China. Aims To investigate efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of omfiloctocog alfa in pediatric PTPs with severe hemophilia A in China. Methods PTPs (>50 exposure days [ED] for Chinese patients aged 150 EDs for patients aged 6-12 years) were treated with omfiloctocog alfa at 25-50 IU/kg every other day or three times per week for 24 weeks. PK was evaluated after single injection of 50 IU/kg. The primary efficacy endpoint was annualized bleeding rate (ABR). Results A total of 69 patients were enrolled (<6 years, n = 35; 6-12 years, n = 34) and mean exposure to omfiloctocog alfa was 78.9 days. Mean half-life was 6.7 and 10.2 h in children < 6 years and 6-12 years, respectively. Estimated mean ABRs of all patients were 4.05 for overall bleeding episodes and 1.38 for spontaneous bleeding episodes. Of 127 bleeding episodes, the success rate was 92.1%. 39.7% patients did not experience any bleeding episodes and the mean weekly dose of FVIII was 109.1 IU/kg for these patients. 83% bleeding episodes were controlled with <= 2 injections. Adverse reactions occurred in 2.9% of the patients. One 2-year-old patient developed inhibitors after 12 EDs and it resolved with omfiloctocog alfa immune tolerance induction. Conclusion Omfiloctocog alfa was efficacious and well tolerated for the prevention and treatment of bleeding in Chinese pediatric PTPs with severe hemophilia A.

Introduction SCT800 is a recombinant human B-domain-deleted coagulation factor VIII (BDDrFVIII) developed in China. Aim To evaluate the repeat pharmacokinetics (PKs), efficacy, and safety of SCT800 in previously treated Chinese adolescent and adult patients with severe haemophilia A. Methods A phase III, multicentre, prospective, open-label, single-arm trial was conducted at 12 medical centres. Subjects received treatment for 24 weeks. PKs were assessed at the initial and repeated dosing 24 weeks later. The primary endpoint was annualized bleeding rate (ABR). Breakthrough bleeding episodes and inhibitor development were assessed. Results A total of 71 of 73 patients completed the study, and 18 were enrolled for the repeat PK investigation. Total exposure was 5643 exposure days. Overall, SCT800 showed comparable repeat PK profiles. The total ABR was 2.82 (95% confidence interval 2.01-3.96). During prophylaxis, 43.8% of patients had no bleeding episodes. The majority (89.4%) of bleeding episodes were controlled with 1-2 injections of SCT800, the success rate (defined as 'excellent' or 'good' haemostatic response) for the treatment of bleeding episodes was 92.6%. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 53.4%. Drug-related AE incidence was 4.1%. The observed AEs were similar to those of other coagulation factor VIII, but lower in frequency. No subject developed an inhibitor, and no other safety concerns were identified. Conclusions SCT800 has robust PK characteristics, and is safe and efficacious for the prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes in previously treated adolescent and adult patients with severe haemophilia A.

PURPOSE:Hemophilia care in China is characterized by widespread use of on-demand regimens and low-dose prophylaxis. With a limited number of approved recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) products, the incidence of arthropathy and disability in hemophilia patients remains high in China. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of turoctocog alfa for prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes in patients from China with severe hemophilia A across all age groups.PATIENTS AND METHODS:In this Phase 3, open-label trial, previously treated males of all ages with severe hemophilia A from China received turoctocog alfa for prophylaxis or on-demand treatment of bleeds. The primary endpoint was hemostatic effect for the treatment of bleeds during the main phase of the trial. Secondary endpoints included annualized bleeding rate during prophylaxis and the frequency of FVIII inhibitor development.RESULTS:Overall, 42 pediatric patients (age <12 years) and 26 adolescent/adult patients (≥12 years) were dosed with turoctocog alfa; 51 patients initiated treatment with prophylaxis, while 17 patients initiated on-demand treatment. During the main phase of the trial (6 months), hemostatic success was 95.1%. During the full trial (up to 24 months), hemostatic success was 95.4%; the overall median ABR was 1.18 bleeds/patient/year for prophylaxis patients; and 25 (51.0%) of 49 patients with target joints at baseline had all target joints resolved. No FVIII inhibitors (≥0.6 BU) were reported.CONCLUSION:Turoctocog alfa was safe and effective for prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes and for surgery in patients from China with severe hemophilia A across all ages.