Oncology Today with Dr Neil Love Immune Thrombocytopenia — Microlearning Activity 2 with Dr Hanny Al-Samkari: ASH 2025 Review
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Mar 9, 2026 Dr Hanny Al-Samkari, hematologist and clinical investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses ASH 2025 trial data on BTK inhibitors and BAFF-R antagonists. He reviews VEHIT and YAHIT trial designs, durable response rates, and differences between yonalimab and rituximab. Other highlights include fatigue mechanisms, surgery guidance for rilzabrutinib, and impacts on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.
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Most Adults Progress Beyond Steroid-Only Remission
- Only about 20% of adults with ITP remain problem-free after frontline steroids; trials may show slightly higher remission.
- Hanny estimates clinical-trial control arms might have ~25–30% steroid-only durable responses.
Enroll Early Relapsers For VEHIT-2
- For VEHIT-2 eligibility use patients after a single steroid course who relapsed or never responded.
- Enroll early-relapse, low-platelet patients rather than easy-to-treat or multi-course steroid responders.
Limit Steroids To Six Weeks Then Switch
- Avoid extended steroid courses beyond six weeks for adults with ITP and transition to steroid-sparing therapies.
- Use TPO receptor agonists, clinical trials, or rituximab to prevent steroid complications and seek disease control.