title: Safety and efficacy of high-dose leukocytapheresis in patients with refractory asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An open-label, non-randomized, single-arm study was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of high-dose leukocytapheresis (pulse LCAP) for refractory asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients who fulfilled the ATS workshop criteria for refractory asthma were enrolled and completed this clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  After 4 weeks of observation, pulse LCAP using a large LCAP filter, Cellsorba(®) CS-180S, was performed twice with a 1-week interval at a target dose of 5 L per treatment session.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical response was assessed by monitoring the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) twice a day. The asthma control test (ACT) was used to evaluate the condition of asthma symptoms. The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) as a biomarker for eosinophilic airway inflammation was measured using a chemiluminescence analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEFR in the morning or the evening and the sum total of the score on the ACT were increased after two consecutive sessions of pulse LCAP. FeNO decreased after pulse LCAP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest the efficacy of pulse LCAP for refractory asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan, tamotsui@u-fukui.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hisada
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatori
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Kikuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanabuchi
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamide
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Utsugi
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanagitani
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaira
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sunaga
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dobashi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuburai
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masatomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents