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Is the steroid-sparing effect one of the differential benefits?

Dra. Natalia Borruel

Dra. Natalia Borruel

One of the most important benefits of Adacolumn® is its steroid-sparing effect. We are learning more and more about the side effects of steroids and, as gastroenterologists dedicated to inflammatory bowel disease, we are all very careful not to extend steroid treatment beyond what’s necessary. Sometimes, it is necessary, but if we have a technique that enables us to save them in steroid-dependent patients while the patient achieves remission or response, it’s a situation that is very favourable for our patients. It is definitely one of the big advantages of Adacolumn®, and has also been proven in several clinical studies.

References:

  • M. Shiraki, T. Yamamoto. Steroid-sparing strategies in the management of ulcerative colitis: Efficacy of leukocytapheresis, World J Gastroenterol. 2012 Nov 7;18(41):5833-8.
  • Iizuka M, Etou T, Shimodaira Y, Hatakeyama T, Sagara S. Cytapheresis re-induces high-rate steroid-free remission in patients with steroid-dependent and steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis. World J Gastroenterol. 2021 Mar 28;27(12):1194-1212.

Dr. Iago Rodríguez Lago

Dr. Iago Rodríguez Lago

Steroid dependence is one of the major concerns when we are treating patients with ulcerative colitis. This is a very frequent scenario. So, this is also the main indication for the apheresis, so we know that most patients receive apheresis is due to a steroid dependent course. We have different options, but we know that the apheresis can reduce the number of steroid courses that the patient is going to receive in the medium to long term, but it can also reduce the requirement of steroids, and this comes from evidence of the Attica trial, for example, that those patients receiving steroids or steroids plus apheresis need less steroids in the initial weeks. So well, this is one of the major strengths also of the apheresis reducing the steroid requirements. And this is very important because steroids usually lead to very high efficacy but also to very frequent outburst events. So, this is one of the major indications, but also one of the major strengths of the apheresis therapy.

References:

  • Cabriada JL, et al. Leukocytapheresis for steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis in clinical practice: results of a nationwide Spanish registry. J Gastroenterol. 2012 Apr;47(4):359-65.
  • M. Shiraki, T. Yamamoto. Steroid-sparing strategies in the management of ulcerative colitis: Efficacy of leukocytapheresis, World J Gastroenterol. 2012 Nov 7;18(41):5833-8.

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