Carro Martínez AV, Montolio Chiva L, Robustillo Villarino M. Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-5. https://doi.org/10.7573/dic.2021-8-5

Drug therapy of immune-mediated inflammatory arthropathies is not always satisfactory, and there is a risk of adverse events. Granulocyte and monocyte/macrophage apheresis (GMA) is a non-pharmacological therapeutic option that is beneficial and very well tolerated. GMA involves passing blood through a column with cellulose acetate beads to remove increased and activated myeloid lineage cells and improve the cytokine profile. The technique reduces pain and inflammation. We present four clinical reports that illustrate the clinical uses of GMA with the medical device Adacolumn® in patients with different backgrounds and immune-mediated inflammatory arthritis. The results were positive, and no adverse events were reported..

dic.2021-8-5.pdf (drugsincontext.com)

Rafael Martín-Masot, MD, *Pilar Ortiz Pérez, MD, *Encarnación Torcuato Rubio, MD,
*Javier Blasco Alonso, PhD, *Marta Herrador López, †Carmen Gallego Fernández, PhD,
and *Víctor Manuel Navas-López, PhD, DOI: 10.1097/PG9.0000000000000100

Chronically active ulcerative colitis (UC) constitutes a challenge in an era where medical therapeutic options have increased while experience with colectomies has decreased. The change in the therapeutic paradigm of the disease means that patients with chronically active UC are being managed waiting to find their therapeutic target. We present 2 cases of children with chronically active UC who did not respond to intravenous steroids nor sequential therapy. A response was obtained with ustekinumab and tofacitinib, 2 drugs widely used in adults but still with little evidence in children. Highlighting the important role of patients and their families helped decision making, facilitating the work of the medical team. With multidisciplinary
management and close follow-up, they have been able to avoid surgery entering complete clinical remission.

https://journals.lww.com/jpgnr/fulltext/2021/08000/the_new_molecules_are_changing_the_course_of.25.aspx

Takuro Kanekura ¹, Koichi Kawahara ² , Int J Infect Dis 2020 Oct;99:1-2. 

To our knowledge, GMA has a good safety profile; serious adverse effects are rarely reported. Its modes of action together with the findings of this case report support our notion that GMA is a relevant therapeutic option for patients with COVID-19 and warrants an immediate clinical trial to evaluate its full therapeutic efficacy in a large cohort of COVID-19 patients.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32721534/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7834290/pdf/main.pdf

Miho Hatanaka, Yuko Higashi, Takuro Kanekura

poster at ISFA 2019 pag 104

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent fever and
systemic flushing accompanied by extensive sterile pustules. Treatments of GPP are usually
topical corticosteroids, activated vitamin D3 ointment, ultraviolet light (UV) therapy, and
oral administration of etretinate, cyclosporine, or methotrexate. Recently, biologics such as
TNF- α; inhibitors, anti-IL-17- and anti-IL-23 antibodies are used. Pustulosis palmoplantaris
(PPP) is a chronic recurrent disorder of the palms and soles characterized by sterile intradermal
pustules. PPP often accompanies joint symptoms. In some instances, PPP is associated with
a focus of infection somewhere in the body; elimination of the infection sometimes improve
symptom. Some treatments of GPP are used for PPP. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a disease
characterized by skin and nail psoriasis together with widespread musculoskeletal inflammation
such as peripheral joint disease, axial joint disease, enthesitis, and dactylitis. Treatment of
PsA is oral administration of NSAID’s, cyclosporine, methotrexate and phosphodiesterase 4
inhibitors for mild to moderate cases. Biologics; TNF- αinhibitors, anti-IL-17- and anti-IL-23
antibodies; have been approved for severe or advanced cases. Granulocyte/monocyte adsorption
apheresis (GMA) is an extracorporeal therapy designed to remove and suppress the functions
of neutrophils, macrophages and monocytes that accumulate in the inflamed tissue and are
involved in the pahogenesis. GMA may be considered as a safe treatment modality with few
side-effects for GPP, PPP and PsA. The effect and safety of GMA have been reported mostly in
case reports. Although the effect and safety of GMA were demonstrated in a multicenter study.
GMA’s utility is expected based on the mechanism of action.

http://www.atalacia.com/isfa/data/abstract.pdf

Yoko Yokoyama ¹, Koji Kamikozuru ², Kenji Watanabe ², Shiro Nakamura ² , Cytokine. 2018 Mar;103:25-28.

To our best knowledge, this is the first report of adding a non-drug GMA to restore the efficacy of infliximab. The outcomes, albeit in three cases, are relevant in therapeutic settings and should inspire further studies in a larger number of patients.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29291447/

Hitoshi Ichikawa ¹, Jin Imai, Hajime Mizukami, Takayuki Shirai, Norihito Watanabe, Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 2017 Jul 20;42(2):64-66.

Unlike conventional medication, GMA apheresis has no serious adverse effects. We present the first report of a UC patient with sacroiliitis, who responded well to GMA therapy. GMA apheresis may be considered a new treatment option for UC-associated spondyloarthropathy that is refractory or tolerant to conventional treatment.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28681364/

Chiharu Tominaga ¹, Masaaki Yamamoto ¹, Yasutomo Imai ¹, Kiyofumi Yamanishi ¹ , Case Rep Dermatol. 2015 Feb 21;7(1):29-35.

 She is the oldest reported case of GPP with a deficiency of interleukin-36 receptor antagonist (DITRA), although GPP in DITRA has been suggested to usually occur in younger cases with no pre-existing psoriasis vulgaris.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25848350/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357681/pdf/cde-0007-0029.pdf

Koji Kamiya ¹, Yumi Aoyama ², Mariko Kawata ², Tetsuya Takiguchi ³, Seiko Mitsui ², Yoshiki Tokura ⁴, Keiji Iwatsuki ² , Eur J Dermatol. 2015 Apr;25(2):189-90.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26075324/

Tomomi Fujisawa ¹, Satoko Suzuki ¹, Yoko Mizutani ¹, Tomoaki Doi ², Shozo Yoshida ², Shinji Ogura ², Mariko Seishima ¹ , Ther Apher Dial. 2015 Aug;19(4):336-41.

GMA showed efficacy for the treatment of refractory GPP patients as a non-pharmacologic intervention without any associated adverse effects, and was particularly effective in the first course, but also effective in the subsequent courses.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26386221/

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/