Yoshitaka Furuto ¹, Rikimaru Sawada ², Akio Namikawa ¹, Nobuyuki Matsuhashi ², Yuko Shibuya ¹ Cureus. 2023 Aug 16;15(8):e43599. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43599.

Granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) therapy is a treatment method for ulcerative colitis (UC). Twice-weekly GMA regimens are usually administered to treat severe UC. Although GMA efficacy is considered frequency-dependent, there is no uniformly accepted optimal GMA regimen, and there is insufficient evidence regarding optimal GMA therapy frequency for acute fulminant UC. Case 1 was of a 33-year-old man, and case 2 was of a 20-year-old woman. They were diagnosed with acute fulminant UC and treated with steroid therapy, but exhibited exacerbated UC, and their conditions worsened. We, therefore, initiated intensive frequent GMA therapy (conducted 10-11 times during a 13-day period). In both cases, remission was achieved within two weeks of therapy induction. Herein, we describe two consecutive cases in which rapid remission of acute fulminant UC was achieved without adverse events using intensive frequent GMA therapy. These cases suggest that intensive frequent GMA therapy might induce rapid remission in acute fulminant UC cases and may be more effective than twice-weekly GMA regimens.

Intensive Frequent Granulocyte Adsorptive Apheresis Therapy for Acute Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis: Two Consecutive Case Reports – PubMed (nih.gov)

Intensive Frequent Granulocyte Adsorptive Apheresis Therapy for Acute Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis: Two Consecutive Case Reports – PMC (nih.gov)

S Ihara ¹, Y Yamaji ², H Kinoshita ¹, A Yamada ¹, Y Hirata ¹, K Hasegawa ³, Y Sugawara ³, N Kokudo ³, K Koike ¹

Transplant Proc 2014 Sep;46(7):2414-7. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.02.016.

Background: Immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine are prescribed long-term after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) to prevent allograft rejection. Although these immunosuppressants are known to effectively control ulcerative colitis (UC), some post-OLT patients develop exacerbation of preexisting UC or de novo UC. Although aminosalicylates and corticosteroid courses are usually effective to treat such UC, several patients have developed uncontrollable disease and required colectomies. Case report: We have reported a patient who developed de novo UC after OLT to treat liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Existence of the HBV infection made us avoid to increase the corticosteroid dose or to use other immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or infliximab. Conclusions: In this patient, granulocyte and monocyte apheresis was highly effective in terms of inducing remission of de novo UC. No adverse event was noted.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25015850/

Akiko Suzuki ¹, Kunitaka Haruna, Yuki Mizuno, Yoshiyuki Kuwae, Yuka Ono, Kazuko Okumura, Osamu Negi, Yasuko Kon, Kaori Takeuchi, Kenji Takamori, Shigaku Ikeda, Yasushi Suga,Ther Apher Dial. 2012 Oct;16(5):445-8.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare form of psoriasis characterized by the presence of variable numbers of sterile pustules appearing in erythematous and scaly lesions, which are associated with moderate to severe constitutional symptoms. It can be life-threatening especially in the elderly; therefore, medical care must be performed in rapid succession of treatment especially in refractory cases. We have performed granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP) on three GPP cases associated with several systemic and laboratory findings. As a result, the edema, erythema and numbers of sterile pustules on the skin lesions were reduced dramatically in all three patients after the first sessions of GCAP therapy. The sizes of the psoriatic lesions were reduced in all three patients following a weekly GCAP treatment for 5 consecutive weeks. Psoriasis area and severity index on discharge had improved in all three patients. No serious adverse effects were observed for up to at least 8 months after treatment. We therefore considered GCAP as one effective alternative to currently existing therapies, especially for recalcitrant cases of GPP.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23046369/