CompletedNot Applicable

Avatrombopag for Severe Thrombocytopenia After Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

China134 participantsStarted 2019-11-01

Plain-language summary

Severe post-transplantation thrombocytopenia (platelet count \<30×10⁹/L) occurs frequently after liver transplantation (LT) and is associated with increased bleeding risk, allograft dysfunction, and transfusion-related complications. Avatrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, is approved for thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease but its role in the post-LT setting remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study included adult LT recipients who developed severe post-transplantation thrombocytopenia (SPT) between November 2019 and August 2025. After 1:1 propensity score matching (nearest neighbor, caliper = 0.2 SD of the logit of the propensity score) for age, sex, etiology of liver disease, cold ischemia time (CIT), intraoperative blood loss (IBL), preoperative platelet count, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, 67 patients who received avatrombopag (20 mg/day for 5 days) were compared with 67 matched controls who received standard care. The primary outcome was platelet rise rate (×10⁹/L/day). Secondary outcomes included absolute platelet increase, blood product utilization, concomitant thrombopoietic agent use, and 30-day complications (thrombosis, infection, mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, death).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: (1) were aged 18 years or older; and (2) developed severe post transplantation thrombocytopenia (SPT), defined as a nadir platelet count below 30×10⁹/L within the first 7 days after LT. Exclusion criteria: (1) use of avatrombopag within 4 weeks before LT; (2) second or subsequent LT; (3) death from surgical complications within 7 days after LT; (4) incomplete platelet measurement records; and (5) age younger than 18 years.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

platelet rise rate

Timeframe: 30 days post-LT

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07600905

SponsorShanghai Zhongshan Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2025-08-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Liver Transplanatation trials