Overuse of corticosteroids in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) between 2011 and 2017 in the United States

Corticosteroids (CSs) are standard first‐line therapy for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Prolonged exposure is associated with substantial toxicity; thus guidelines recommend avoidance of prolonged CS treatment and early use of second‐line therapies. However, real‐world evidence on ITP treatment patterns remains limited. We aimed to assess real‐world treatment patterns in patients with newly‐diagnosed ITP, using two large US healthcare databases (Explorys and MarketScan) between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2017. Adults with ITP, ≥12 months of database registration prior to diagnosis, ≥1 ITP treatment, and ≥1 month enrollment following initiation of first ITP treatment were included (n = 4066 Explorys; n = 7837 MarketScan). Information on lines of treatment (LoTs) was collected. As expected, CSs were the most common first‐line treatment (Explorys, 87.9%; MarketScan, 84.5%). However, CSs remained by far the most common treatment (Explorys ≥77%; MarketScan ≥85%) across all subsequent LoTs. Second‐line treatments such as rituximab (12.0% Explorys; 24.5% MarketScan), thrombopoietin receptor agonists (11.3% Explorys; 15.6% MarketScan), and splenectomy (2.5% Explorys; 8.1% MarketScan) were used much less frequently. CS use is widespread in the US in patients with ITP across all LoTs. Quality improvement initiatives are needed to reduce CS exposure and bolster use of second‐line treatments.