title: Leukocytapheresis for the treatment of active pouchitis: a pilot study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Kurume Coloproctology Center, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagae
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tou
authors.forename: Motonori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Yasue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwatani
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozasa
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noake
mesh_terms: 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*