ITP relapses and clinical manifestations
During hospitalization, 13 (43.3%) patients developed ITP relapses. The
median time from COVID-19 diagnosis to the ITP relapse time was two days
(IQR: 1-6). The median lowest platelet count was 60
x109/L (IQR: 43-74) and the median time to lowest
platelet count was three days (IQR: 1.5-8.5) after COVID-19 diagnosis.
Figure 1 shows platelet counts during the admission. Table 1 summarizes
the clinical characteristics, treatment lines, and outcomes of all
chronic ITP patients who developed relapses. Among the patients who
developed ITP relapses, seven (53.8%) patients were male, and the
median age was 70 year old (IQR: 67-78). Three (23.1%) patients
received ITP treatment in the past during their life, one patient was on
Eltrombopag, one patient was on steroids and IVIG, and the last one was
on steroid, Eltrombopag, romiplostim, and IVIG. Five (38.5%) patients
developed six bleeding complications, of which three (50%) were GI
bleed, two (33.3%) were skin purpura and one (16.7%) was hemoptysis.
None of the bleeding events were major or required blood transfusion.