In:
Digestion, S. Karger AG, Vol. 70, No. 1 ( 2004), p. 36-44
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Background/Aim: 〈 /i 〉 Active ulcerative colitis (UC) is often associated with increased peripheral granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages which show activation behavior and prolonged survival time. Further, mucosal granulocyte level parallels intestinal inflammation and can predict UC relapse. Accordingly, our aim was to see if adsorptive granulocyte/monocyte apheresis (GMA) can promote remission and spare steroid in patients with steroid-dependent (SD) UC. 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 69 SD patients, at the time of relapse, were randomly assigned to groups I (n = 46) and II (n = 23). The mean dose of prednisolone (PSL) was 12 mg/day/patient, CAI (clinical activity index) 9.2 in both groups. Group I patients were given up to 11 GMA sessions over 10 weeks with Adacolumn; in group II, the mean dose of PSL was increased to 30 mg/day/patient. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 At week 12, 83% of group I and 65% of group II patients were in remission, CAI in group I was 1.7 (p 〈 0.001) and in group II, 2.5 (p 〈 0.001). Further, during the 12 weeks of treatment, the cumulative amount of PSL received per patient was 1,157 mg in group I and 1,938 mg in group II (p = 0.001). 〈 i 〉 Conclusions: 〈 /i 〉 GMA appeared to be an effective adjunct to standard drug therapy of moderately severe UC by promoting remission and sparing steroids.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0012-2823
,
1421-9867
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2004
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482218-0
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