title: Endoscopic findings can predict the efficacy of leukocytapheresis for steroid-naive patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the therapeutic usefulness of leukocytapheresis (LCAP; Cellsoba) in steroid-naive patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen steroid-naive patients with moderately active UC received one LCAP session every week for five consecutive weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The remission rate 8 weeks after the last LCAP session was 61.1% (11/18). All three patients with deep ulcers showed worsening after LCAP. For the remaining 15 patients, who had erosions or geographic ulcers, the average clinical activity index (CAI) score dropped significantly from 9.4 to 3.8 eight weeks after the last LCAP session (t = 4.89, P = 0.001). The average C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after LCAP were 1.2 mg/dL and 1.0 mg/dL, respectively. Of the patients with erosions, geographic ulcers, and deep ulcers, 100% (9/9), 33.3% (2/6), and 0% (0/3) were in remission 8 weeks after the last LCAP session, respectively (chi(2) = 7.65, P < 0.005). Forty-eight weeks after the last LCAP session, the remission rates for patients with erosions and geographic ulcers were 44.4% (4/9) and 16.7% (1/6), respectively. Only one patient suffered a mild adverse event after LCAP (nausea).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LCAP is a useful and safe therapy for steroid-naive UC patients with moderate disease activity. Moreover, the efficacy of the treatment can be predicted on the basis of endoscopic findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Umehara
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
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