Eltrombopag in chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C is a public health problem worldwide. Unfortunately, not all patients may benefit from antiviral therapy due to thrombocytopenia. Its causes are represented by portal hypertension and platelet sequestration in the spleen, decreased serum levels or activity of thrombopoietin, the bone marrow suppression induced by hepatitis C virus and a possible adverse effect of interferon. Thrombopoietin receptor analogs may contribute to increase platelet counts in these patients. Eltrombopag binds to another region of the thrombopoietin receptor compared to endogenous thrombopoietin and stimulates the proliferation and maturation of megakaryocytes and the platelet production in a dose-dependent manner. Eltrombopag has proven its effectiveness for the treatment of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia. Its indication for other hemopathies or situations (like thrombocytopenia secondary to chemo- or radiotherapy, acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndroms, acquired and hereditary bone marrow failure, and platelet donors) is under study. Eltrombopag may be particularly useful in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis who require antiviral treatment. We present a minireview on the results of treatment with eltrombopag in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus, highlighting the benefits and mentioning possible adverse effects. In some studies eltrombopag increased the number of virological responses after clasical antiviral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and reduced the transfusional requirements of those who had to be subjected to invasive surgery. Eltrombopag is a solution for many of these patients, which allows them receiving antiviral therapy and sometimes getting a sustained virological response, but they must be well monitored to prevent possible thromboembolic or bone marrow complications or liver failure occurrence.