Transitioning patients with immune thrombocytopenia to second‐line therapy: Challenges and best practices

Abstract

In patients with immune thrombocytopenia who do not adequately respond to first‐line therapy, there is no clear consensus on which second‐line therapy to initiate and when. This situation leads to suboptimal approaches, including prolonged exposure to treatments that are not intended for long‐term use (e.g. corticosteroids) and overuse of off‐label therapies (e.g. rituximab) while approved, more efficacious options exist. These approaches may not only fail to address symptoms and burden of disease, but may also worsen health‐related quality of life. A better understanding of available second‐line treatments may ensure best use of therapeutic options and thereby optimize patient outcomes.