Granulocyte-monocyte apheresis: an alternative combination therapy after loss of response to anti-TNF agents in ulcerative colitis.

Iago Rodríguez-Lago¹, Laura Sempere², Ana Gutiérrez^2 3, Andrea Núñez⁴, Eduardo Leo Carnerero⁴, Esther Hinojosa⁵, María Mora⁵, Fiorella Cañete⁶, Miriam Mañosa⁶, Claudia Herrera⁷, Belén Beltrán⁸, Ana Forés⁹, Dolores Arjona¹⁰, Manuel Barreiro-de Acosta¹¹, Sam Khorrami¹², Urko Aguirre¹³, Daniel Ginard¹², José Luis Cabriada¹ , Scand J Gastroenterol 2019 Apr;54(4):459-464.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of granulocyte-monocyte apheresis (GMA) after loss of response (LOR) to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and methods: A retrospective, multicenter study was performed in 11 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Units. Clinical remission was defined as a partial Mayo score ≤2. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by the partial Mayo score and the rate of anti-TNF intensification, switch, swap or colectomy. Results: Forty-seven patients with ulcerative colitis were included (mean age 35 years, mean disease duration 52 months, 66% male and 59% extensive colitis). Twenty-three subjects were receiving infliximab, eighteen adalimumab and six golimumab. GMA was combined after a primary non-response (49%) or secondary loss of response (51%) to anti-TNF therapy. We observed a significant decrease in partial Mayo score and fecal calprotectin after GMA. Fifteen patients (32%) responded to the combination therapy without anti-TNF intensification, switch, swap or colectomy. Eight patients (17%) underwent colectomy. Two patients (4%) presented adverse events related to the technique. Conclusions: Combination of GMA and anti-tumor necrosis factor is a safe and effective treatment after the loss of response to these biologic agents, with a significant decrease of the clinical disease activity and biomarkers, in a population with limited therapeutic alternatives.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30982369/