Risk of thromboembolism with thrombopoietin receptor agonists in adult patients with thrombocytopenia: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background and objective: Thrombopoietin receptor (TPOr) agonists (romiplostim and eltrombopag) are a new approach for the treatment of thrombocytopenia-associated conditions. They promote megakaryocyte differentiation, proliferation and platelet production. In the European Union, both are orphan drugs with an indication restricted to splenectomized immune thrombocytopenic purpura patients who are refractory to other treatments. Due to increasing platelet counts, these drugs may represent a risk for thromboembolic complications. We analyzed whether TPOr agonists affect thromboembolisms occurrence in adult thrombocytopenic patients. Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review and…