Efficacy and safety comparison of hetrombopag and eltrombopag in children with cancer therapy-induced thrombocytopenia: a single-center retrospective study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of hetrombopag and eltrombopag in children with cancer therapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CTIT), and to explore the clinical value of eltrombopag for this specific pediatric population given the current lack of dedicated literature. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study. A total of 185 pediatric CTIT patients were enrolled, including 114 cases in the hetrombopag group and 71 cases in the eltrombopag group. Baseline characteristics, platelet (PLT) parameters, efficacy outcomes (platelet response rate, response duration, transfusion dependence), and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate tests (t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ Results: Baseline characteristics were generally balanced between the two groups, with no significant differences in age, height, weight, primary diagnosis, or baseline PLT count (all Conclusion: In pediatric CTIT patients, eltrombopag was linked to improved platelet response and less transfusion dependence, accompanied by a tolerable safety profile. As the first study focusing on eltrombopag for pediatric CTIT, these findings provide critical evidence supporting its clinical application as a promising therapeutic option for this understudied population.