Bleeding Events in Lusutrombopag-treated Thrombocytopoenic Patients

Patients with advanced chronic liver disease are characterised by the presence of thrombocytopoenia in a proportion ranging from 15% to 84%, depending on the threshold used to define this abnormality and the degree of severity of liver disease.1-3 In these patients, thrombocytopoenia is multifactorial and may be associated with an increased risk of bleeding following invasive procedures.4,5 Indeed, although the platelet count threshold associated with an increased risk of bleeding is debated, current practice guidelines suggest platelet transfusions, or the use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA), prior to high-risk planned invasive procedures, in patients with chronic liver disease and a platelet count <50 x 109 /L.6-9.