Extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of Crohn's disease.
Small, open-label studies show promising results for ECP in the treatment of steroid-dependent and medically-refractory Crohn's disease. However, proper randomized, sham-controlled trials have not yet been performed. Based on the proposed mechanism of action of ECP, induction of a tolerogenic T cell response, ECP should be assessed in patients with early inflammatory disease rather than those who have progressed to fibrotic or stricturing disease. Randomized, sham-controlled trials need to be performed before ECP can be incorporated into standard clinical practice for the treatment of Crohn's disease.
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Electronic address: sharyle.fowler@usask.ca.
Sharyle
S
Fowler
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Jennifer
J
Jones
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Peter R
PR
Hull
Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Subrata
S
Ghosh
D001781:Blood Component Removal; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D013256:Steroids; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids