Anagrelide for the treatment of thrombocythaemia in daily clinical practice: a post-marketing observational survey on efficacy and safety performed in Germany.

BACKGROUND

Myeloproliferative diseases - in particular essential thrombocythaemia (ET) - may be associated with increases in platelet count which put patients at risk of life-threatening complications such as thromboses and severe bleedings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multicentre post-marketing observational survey was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of anagrelide under daily practice conditions in at-risk patients with ET who received anagrelide for the first time.

RESULTS

198 patients (median age of 64 years, range 19-88 years) were included, 61.1% of the patients were women. The mean observation time was 6.2 +/- 1.7 months. Treatment with anagrelide lowered the platelet counts by a median of 316 x 10(9)/l from a median of 797 x 10(9)/l at the beginning of the observation to 470 x 10(9)/l at the last observation (log rank test, p < 0.001). Disease-related complications were reduced during treatment compared to 6 months prior to treatment (transient ischaemic attacks from 1.5 to 0.5%; thromboses from 7.6 to 0%). The number of bleedings remained the same at 1.5%. Adverse events were documented in 46 patients (23.2%). All observed adverse events were similar to those previously reported in clinical studies.

CONCLUSION

Anagrelide was effective in lowering the platelet count and was also well tolerated when used in daily clinical practice.