Leukocytapheresis for the treatment of active pouchitis: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Pouchitis is a major long-term complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of leukocytapheresis for the treatment of active pouchitis.


METHODS
Eight patients with active pouchitis received leukocytapheresis weekly for 5 weeks in an open-label treatment protocol together with baseline therapy.


RESULTS
Patients showed significant improvement in their pouchitis disease activity index scores, from 9.5 (range, 8-10) to 4.0 (range, 2-8) (P < 0.05). Six (75%) of the 8 treated patients achieved remission. No adverse events were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Leukocytapheresis therapy could be a new therapeutic strategy for patients with pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. These encouraging results lead us to propose a randomized controlled trial.
Araki
Yasumi
Y
Kurume Coloproctology Center, Kurume, Japan.
Mitsuyama
Keiichi
K
Nagae
Takaaki
T
Tou
Yuji
Y
Nakagawa
Motonori
M
Iwatani
Yasue
Y
Harada
Masakazu
M
Ozasa
Hiroyuki
H
Sata
Michio
M
Noake
Toshihiro
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000601:surgery; D039021:Colonic Pouches / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019449:Pouchitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*