title: Effect of filtration leukocytapheresis therapy: modulation of white blood cell enzyme activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We treated 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis by filtration leukocytapheresis (FLCP) and evaluated its effect on leukocyte enzyme activities. We calculated the number of leukocytes removed and assessed the clinical response. We also evaluated the cellular enzyme activities of elastase and dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV). Out of 12 patients, 7 patients achieved 20% improvement for 4 weeks following FLCP. The FLCP treatment resulted in removal of 96% of granulocytes, 98% of monocytes, and 61% of lymphocytes. Granulocytes and monocytes with high elastase activity were effectively removed by FLCP. The elastase activity of granulocytes was increased 4 weeks after the last FLCP only in responders. On the other hand, the DPP IV activity of lymphocytes was low at 4 weeks after the last FLCP in responders. Modulation of leukocyte enzyme activities is one of the main effects of FLCP therapy and alteration of granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sasebo Chuo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Yukitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Seibei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Tan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase