Low-Dose Eltrombopag in a Patient with Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Post Sleeve Gastrectomy

Abstract

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disease in which the immune system attacks platelets and causes decrease in its number exposing the patient to risk of bleeding. It is diagnosed by exclusion. Eltrombopag is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist which is used as second-line treatment for patients with ITP. The usual starting dose is 25 mg daily and maintenance dose is 75 mg daily. Little is known about the dose of eltrombopag in patients with sleeve gastrectomy since reduction in the amount of functioning gastrointestinal tract after gastric bypass surgery leads to decreased time to drug absorption and reduced drug bioavailability. Here we are reporting a 46-year-old female with ITP and sleeve gastrectomy who responded to low-dose eltrombopag 25 mg every other day, which is equivalent to 12.5 mg daily, and maintained adequate platelet counts on this dose.