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Splenectomy in İmmune Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Analysis of 25-Year Follow-up Data from a Tertiary Health Clinic

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Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disorder presenting with isolated thrombocytopenia. Splenectomy is still one of the treatment alternatives for these patients. Here we aim to analyze long term follow-up data of splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenia. This retrospectively designed study was conducted in a tertiary health clinic. Patients with ITP who were splenectomized between 1990 and 2015 were included. Response to treatment was interpreted as ‘complete response', ‘response' or ‘no response'. The incidence of response loss was evaluated. Perioperative and long term complications and overall survival rates were determined. Out of 51 patients, who underwent splenectomy after 12 months of diagnosis, 47 achieved a response (92.2%). Of 47 patients who had a platelet count at least 30.000/µL, 41 (87.2%) had CR. Incidence of loss of response was 10.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4%-26.1%) at 30 months. Two patients died, and overall survival rate was 97.4% (95% CI: 82.8%-99.6%) at 30 months of follow up. Considering the complications: two patients had venous thromboembolism, 11 had minor bleeding episodes and 15 suffered from perioperative infections. Our study suggests that splenectomy promises a high level of response with acceptable complication rates. Although less preferred recently, splenectomy should still be taken into consideration when remission is not achieved especially after 12 months of disease.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Pendik, 34899, İstanbul, Turkey

    Serdar Ozkok

  2. Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, İstanbul, Turkey

    Isik Kaygusuz Atagunduz, Osman Kara, Aslihan Sezgin, Toluy Ozgumus, Fatma Gecgel, Tulin Firatli Tuglular & Tayfur Toptas

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  1. Serdar Ozkok
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  2. Isik Kaygusuz Atagunduz
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  3. Osman Kara
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Contributions

SO: Methodology, Software, Writing- Original Draft Preparation, Validation, Writing- Reviewing and Editing. TT: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Writing- Original draft preparation, Validation, Writing- Reviewing and Editing, Supervision. IKA: Reviewing and Editing, Supervision. FG: Data curation. TFT: Supervision.

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Correspondence to Serdar Ozkok.

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Ethical Approval

This study was conducted according to guidelines in the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved from the local ethical committee. No informed consent could be obtained due to its retrospective design.

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Ozkok, S., Kaygusuz Atagunduz, I., Kara, O. et al. Splenectomy in İmmune Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Analysis of 25-Year Follow-up Data from a Tertiary Health Clinic. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 38, 516–521 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-021-01467-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-021-01467-0

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