The Combination of Tacrolimus and High-dose Dexamethasone as First-line Treatment in Adult Immune Thrombocytopenia

The Combination of High-dose Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus Versus High-dose Dexamethasone as the First-Line Treatment of Newly-diagnosed Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter, Open-label Trial

Randomized, open-label, multicenter study to compare the efficacy and safety of Combination of High-dose Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus versus High-dose Dexamethasone for the first-line treatment of adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

The investigators are undertaking a parallel group, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of 100 adults with ITP in China. Patients were randomized to tacrolimuis plus high-dose dexamethasone and high-dose dexamethasone monotherapy group. Platelet count, bleeding and other symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment. Adverse events are also recorded throughout the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Confirmed newly-diagnosed, treatment-naive ITP;
2. Platelet counts <30×109/L ;
3. Platelet counts < 50×109/L and significant bleeding symptoms (WHO bleeding scale 2 or above);
4. Willing and able to sign written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Received chemotherapy or anticoagulants or other drugs affecting the platelet counts within 6 months before the screening visit;
2. Received first-line and second-line ITP-specific treatments (eg, steriods, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, vincristine, vinblastine, etc) ;
3. Current HIV infection or hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infections;
4. Active infection;
5. Maligancy;
6. Severe medical condition (lung, hepatic or renal disorder) other than chronic ITP. Unstable or uncontrolled disease or condition related to or impacting cardiac function (e.g., unstable angina, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension or cardiac arrhythmia);
7. Female patients who are nursing or pregnant, who may be pregnant, or who contemplate pregnancy during the study period; a history of clinically significant adverse reactions to previous corticosteroid therapy
8. Have a known diagnosis of other autoimmune diseases, established in the medical history and laboratory findings with positive results for the determination of antinuclear antibodies, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant or direct Coombs test;
9. Patients who are deemed unsuitable for the study by the investigator.