Recombinant human thrombopoietin alleviates infection-associated thrombocytopenia: a retrospective study in senile patients.

Objective: To examine the efficacy and adverse events of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in the treatment of infection-associated thrombocytopenia in senile patients. Methods: The current study is a retrospective analysis of the patients receiving rhTPO for infection-associated thrombocytopenia in our hospital. Results: Forty-nine cases were included in the analysis as rhTPO group. The absolute platelet count after treatment, increase in platelet count, and the overall response rate were considerably higher in the rhTPO group than that in the control group. Improvement in bleeding score was higher in the rhTPO treatment group than that in the control group (2.1 5.4 vs 0.4 +/- 1.7). Bleeding event was stopped in 68.2% of the patients after rhTPO treatment and in 35% of the patients in the control group (P = .032). A stratified analysis indicated that the therapeutic efficacy is much better in patients without organ failure. Conclusion: Recombinant human TPO is effective in alleviating infection-associated thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage in senile patients, particularly if given prior to the emergence of organ failure.