Eltrombopag versus placebo for low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with thrombocytopenia (EQoL-MDS): phase 1 results of a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 superiority trial

Publication date: Available online 3 February 2017 Source:The Lancet Haematology Author(s): Esther N Oliva, Caterina Alati, Valeria Santini, Antonella Poloni, Alfredo Molteni, Pasquale Niscola, Flavia Salvi, Grazia Sanpaolo, Enrico Balleari, Ulrich Germing, Pierre Fenaux, Aspasia Stamatoullas, Giuseppe A Palumbo, Prassede Salutari, Stefana Impera, Paolo Avanzini, Agostino Cortelezzi, Anna Marina Liberati, Paola Carluccio, Francesco Buccisano, Maria Teresa Voso, Stefano Mancini, Austin Kulasekararaj, Fortunato Morabito, Monica Bocchia, Patrizia Cufari, Maria Antonietta Aloe Spiriti, Irene Santacaterina, Maria Grazia D'Errigo, Irene Bova, Gina Zini, Roberto Latagliata Background In myelodysplastic syndromes, thrombocytopenia is associated with mortality, but treatments in this setting are scarce. We tested whether eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, might be effective in improving thrombocytopenia in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and severe thrombocytopenia. Methods EQoL-MDS was a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 superiority trial of adult patients with low-risk or International Prognostic Scoring System intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and severe thrombocytopenia. Patients with a stable platelet count of lower than 30 × 109 platelets per L, aged at least 18 years, with refractoriness, ineligibility to receive treatment with alternative medications, or relapse while receiving treatment with alt...

Source: The Lancet Haematology - February 2, 2017 Category: Hematology Source Type: research