romiplostim
Meaning of romiplostim: Romiplostim is an injectable medication that raises platelet counts in chronic immune thrombocytopenia by stimulating platelet production in the bone marrow.
Definition of romiplostim
Romiplostim is a medication used to raise platelet counts in adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia, a condition in which the immune system destroys platelets faster than the bone marrow can replace them, when other treatments have not been effective enough.
Romiplostim works by binding to and activating the thrombopoietin receptor, the same receptor that the body's natural hormone thrombopoietin uses to signal the bone marrow to produce more platelets. By activating this receptor, romiplostim stimulates the bone marrow to increase platelet production.
Romiplostim is given by injection at intervals determined by a person's platelet count response, and treatment is generally adjusted over time to maintain a platelet level high enough to reduce the risk of bleeding without producing an excessive rise in platelet count.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Romiplostim was started after the patient's chronic immune thrombocytopenia did not respond adequately to earlier treatment.
Good to know
Romiplostim raises platelet counts by stimulating new platelet production rather than by replacing platelets directly, distinguishing its mechanism from a platelet transfusion.