A Randomized Trial of rhTPO Versus Placebo for Low/Intermediate-1 Risk MDS With Thrombocytopenia

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a kind of clonal myeloid tumor. The major manifestation is decrease of tri-lineages of blood due to ineffective and abnormal hematopoiesis, some of which can progress to acute myeloid leukemia. According to the international prognosis scoring system (IPSS) of MDS, about 10% low/intermediate risk-1 MDS patients have severe thrombocytopenia (PLT \< 30 × 109/ L). These patients have both decreased platelet count and platelet dysfunction, resulting in a high risk of bleeding. In the new prognostic score, such as IPSS-r, the degree of thrombocytopenia is regarded as a poor prognostic factor. Platelet transfusion is mainly used in the treatment of this kind of patients. The indications of transfusion include bleeding events or severe platelet count reduction (\< 10 × 109 / L). However, platelet transfusion can only lead to short-term platelet elevation, while repeated transfusion increases the possibility of infection and ineffective platelet transfusion. TPO is a newly discovered hematopoietic promoting factor, which can specifically bind to the TPO receptor on the cell and participate in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, maturation and division of megakaryocyte to form functional platelet. The efficacy and safety of the TPO receptor agonists eltrombopag and romiplostim in the treatment of thrombocytopenia in low/intermediate risk-1 MDS patients have been successfully confirmed in foreign studies. Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) is also a kind of a TPO receptor agonists which is highly specific platelet stimulating factor. At present, there is no large report on the application of rhTPO in such patients. The purpose of this study is to explore the short-term and long-term therapeutic effect and safety of rhTPO on low/intermediate risk-1 MDS patients.