The ITP Development Process

Through a partnership with the University of Oklahoma, ASH brought together 13 experts including hematologists, guideline development specialists, and patient representatives to develop comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for ITP. The panel includes U.S. and international experts in ITP, as well as experts in evidence synthesis and guideline development. The panel also has two patient representatives, who participate equally with the medical experts throughout the entire development process.

Development of these guidelines is wholly funded by ASH, a non-profit medical specialty society that represents hematologists. Before and during appointment to the panel, individuals disclose both financial and non-financial interests. Conflicts of interest are managed through panel composition, disclosure, and recusal.

Once formed, the panel conducted a brainstorming exercise to develop a list of clinical questions and outcomes of interest. Outcomes of interest rated highly by the panel were used to inform the systematic reviews

Researchers then conducted systematic reviews of intervention effects and searched for evidence related to baseline risks, values, preferences and costs. The panel then developed recommendations after summarizing findings within the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) framework.

Once the panel considers the guidelines complete, they are reviewed by the ASH Executive Committee, which then provides approval for the guidelines to be submitted for peer review and subsequent publication.