Daily granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis in patients with active ulcerative colitis: a prospective safety and feasibility study.

BACKGROUND

This prospective study was to assess the safety and feasibility of daily granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) therapy in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

Thirty consecutive patients with moderately or severely active UC received daily GMA treatment (5 sessions over 5 consecutive days) with the Adacolumn. Adverse events (AE), patient tolerability, and clinical symptoms were monitored daily.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients (53%) experienced AE during at least one GMA session. The most frequent AE was mild headache followed by fatigue and fever. None of the AE was serious, and all patients completed the 5 consecutive GMA sessions. Clinical symptoms (stool frequency and/or rectal bleeding) were improved in 21 patients (70%) during the course of GMA therapy. Clinical remission defined as normal stool frequency and no rectal bleeding was achieved in 7 patients (23%) after 5 GMA sessions. Seven of 20 patients (35%) with moderately active disease achieved clinical remission, whereas none of the 10 patients with severely active disease achieved clinical remission. Total and differential leukocyte counts, platelet count, and hemoglobin level did not significantly change, but C-reactive protein level significantly decreased during the course of GMA therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report on daily GMA in the treatment of patients with UC. Daily GMA was safe and well tolerated without serious AE. Furthermore, daily GMA was associated with rapid improvement of clinical symptoms in patients with moderately active UC. However, controlled trials are warranted to assess a definite efficacy for daily GMA therapy.