Scientific corner

Treatment of Pyoderma Gangrenosum With Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Apheresis

Takuro Kanekura,Koichi Kawahara,Ikuro Maruyama,Tamotsu Kanzaki Ther Apher Dial 2005 Aug;9(4):292-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-9987.2005.00284.x.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an intractable skin disorder characterized by the development of erythematous pustules or nodules that rapidly progress to destructive, necrotizing, non-infective ulcers. We assessed the efficacy of granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP) therapy in two new patients, a 67-year-old man with ulcerations on his lower leg, and a 44-year-old man with turgid erythematous lesions with burrowing abscesses and sinus formation on his hip, groin, and thighs. Both patients received 10 GCAP treatments at 5-day intervals. Their skin lesions responded well. The 9 cmx6 cm ulcer on the lower right leg of the 67-year-old patient was completely covered by regenerated skin at the completion of therapy. The turgid skin lesions containing pustules and ulcers of the other patient showed amelioration and a marked decrease in the volume of exudate. Our results suggest that GCAP is a useful treatment modality for pyoderma gangrenosum.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16076369/

Scientific corner

Treatment of psoriatic arthritis with granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis

Takuro Kanekura 1Hisashi KawabataIkuro MaruyamaTamotsu Kanzaki

J Am Acad Dermatol  2004 Feb;50(2):242-6. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(03)02474-5.

Granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP) is a new extracorporeal apheresis treatment modality that removes pathogenic granulocytes. Recently, we found that GCAP is useful for treating pyoderma gangrenosum and pustular psoriasis. We thought that this treatment may also be effective for treating other disorders attributable to activated granulocytes and studied the efficacy of GCAP in 4 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Treatment with GCAP resulted in remarkable clearing of joint pain, suggesting that GCAP is valuable for treating arthritis as well as skin disorders. We present a detailed description of these patients and this novel therapy.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14726879/

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