| Theme |
Up-to-date Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases |
| Title |
Cytapheresis for Ambulatory Ulcerative Colitis Therapy |
| Author |
Takeshi Kusaka |
The Division of Lower Gastroenterology, Hyogo College of Medicine |
| Author |
Kunio Ohnishi |
The Division of Lower Gastroenterology, Hyogo College of Medicine |
| Author |
Ken Fukunaga |
The Division of Lower Gastroenterology, Hyogo College of Medicine |
| Author |
Takayuki Matsumoto |
The Division of Lower Gastroenterology, Hyogo College of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) and Granulocyte apheresis (GCAP) are methods developed in Japan as an alternative therapies for steroid dependent or steroid resistant cases of ulcerative colitis (UC). According to the results of clinical trials performed by institutes throughout the country, efficacy of LCAP and GCAP was demonstrated in 58 - 74 % of UC patients resistant to conventional steroid therapy. In our institute, adverse events during ambulant extracorporeal circulation therapy for 127 patients (total 1,786 sessions) were seen in 2 - 10 % of cases. GCAP tended to be especially safe. Most of the symptoms were temporary. Safety and simplicity are the advantage of cytapheresis for other steroid, immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, cytapheresis is considered to be an effective first line ambulant therapy for ulcerative colitis. |