Drug Approved for Low Platelet Patients

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/fda-approves-glaxo-ligand-platelet-drug-for-hepatitis-c-patients

Good news for someone like myself.

[uncledudeness]

i guess that's good news, but my liver doc said that there are some dangerous sides with it, and he suggested i not take it. at the time i asked him about it, the FDA had not approved it for HCV. thanks for the info.

[HectorSF]

Promacta  (eltrombopag) has been available since 2008 for ITP and has used off label by some doctors to treat thrombocytopenia in treating low platelet counts in in hepatitis C patients doing interferon based treatment. The FDA has expanded its use now to include treating hepatitis C patients.
NOTE: Safety and efficacy have not been established in combination with direct-acting antiviral agents approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection.

It is usually only more advanced cirrhotics with low platelet counts before starting treatment that ever need to prevent platelet counts from getting dangerously low if they treat with peg-INF. I know the Gilead's Sofobuvir taken with Ribavirin does not have this effect. And I can't see other non-peg-INF treatments from causing thrombocytopenia.

Promacta is only a temporary solution to raise platelet counts and may be used along with platelet transfusions.

Also in cirrhotics there is risk involved as Promacta can be toxic to the liver  and can cause decompensation

"BOXED WARNING

Promacta may cause hepatotoxicity. Promacta, in combination with interferon and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C, may increase the risk of hepatic decompensation. Patients receiving therapy with Promacta must have regular monitoring of serum liver tests. Discontinue Promacta if ALT levels increase to >/=3X upper limit of normal (ULN) in patients with normal liver function or >/= 3X baseline in patients with pre-treatment elevations in transaminases and are: progressive; or persistent for >/=4 weeks; or accompanied by increased direct bilirubin; or accompanied by clinical symptoms of liver injury or evidence of hepatic decompensation. Reinitiating treatment with Promacta is not recommended and should be considered only with close medical supervision and under exceptional circumstances where the potential benefit outweighs the risk."

Crossroadsec used at her transplant center.

Cheers!
Hector

[mckansas]

advised by med help to respond, shot down again on any post I make regarding new treatment options, so great medhelp, I responded.