Table 3 Comparison of baseline variables between responder and non-responder of eltrombopag in patients with connective tissue disease-associated immune thrombocytopenia (CTD-ITP).

From: Eltrombopag for the treatment of refractory thrombocytopenia associated with connective tissue disease

Baseline variables

Efficacy of eltrombopag

p*

Responder, n = 12

Non-responder, n = 3

Age, years

40.5 ± 15.1

41 ± 13.5

0.945

 ≥ 50 old-year

4

1

0.758

Female: Male

9:3

3:0

0.484

Protopathy

0.071

Systemic lupus erythematosus

8

1

0.341

Sjögren’s syndrome

1

2

0.081

UCTD

3

0

0.484

Duration of platelet reduction > 1 year

6

2

0.554

Splenomegaly

3

0

0.453

Prior therapy

High dose of corticosteroids#

12

3

1.000

Intravenous immunoglobulin

5

2

0.446

Use of TPO

3

2

0.242

Rituximab

1

1

0.371

CysA

9

3

0.484

HCQ

4

1

0.758

CTX

1

1

0.371

Laboratory examination

WBCs counts, 109/L

8.0 ± 3.9

2.1 ± 0.7

0.004

Leukopenia (< 4.0 × 109/L)

2

3

0.022

Hemoglobin, mg/dL

131.7 ± 25.7

70.3 ± 13.2

0.009

Anemia

0.002

Normal (≥ 120 mg/dL)

10

0

 

Slight degree (≥ 90 mg/dL)

2

0

 

Medium degree (60–90 mg/dL)

0

2

 

Severe degree (< 60 mg/dL)

0

1

 

Elevated reticulocyte counts

7

2

0.491

Low level of complement

6

2

0.615

Characteristics of bone marrow findings

0.01

Normal

6

0

 

ITP

5

0

 

Aplastic anemia

0

1

 

Megakaryocytopenia

1

0

 

Lack of megakaryocytes

0

1

 

Macrophage activation syndrome

0

1

 
  1. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± (standard deviation).
  2. CysA cyclosporine A, CTX cyclophosphamide, HCQ hydroxychloroquine, ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, UCTD undifferentiated connective tissue disease, WBCs white blood cells, TPO thrombopoietin.
  3. *p was shown with exact significance on one-sided or asymptotic significance on two-sided.
  4. #High dose of corticosteroids were defined as at least 1 mg/kg day; responder, complete remission plus partial response.
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