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Granulocyte adsorptive apheresis for leg ulcers complicated by rheumatoid arthritis: a report on three successfully treated cases
Author(s) -
Mori Shinya,
Nagashima Masakazu,
Yoshida Kazuhiro,
Yoshino Kouji,
Aoki Mikako,
Kawana Seiji,
Hirata Ichiro,
Saniabadi Abby,
Yoshino Shinichi
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.01986.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pyoderma gangrenosum , apheresis , rheumatoid arthritis , surgery , granulocyte , arthritis , platelet , disease
Background The treatment of inflammatory leg ulcers complicated by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which are unresponsive to conventional care, can be frustrating. Furthermore, as granulocytes and monocytes (GM) are major sources of inflammatory cytokines, they have the potential to initiate and perpetuate inflammatory skin lesions. Accordingly, a recent study reported the remission of pyoderma gangrenosum following the reduction of activated peripheral blood GM by adsorptive apheresis (GMA). Methods In this clinical study, we applied GMA to three cases, each with one leg ulcer below the knee and RA. The ulcers had not responded to conventional therapy, including disinfection, dressing, and antimicrobials, and therefore were thought to represent inflammatory vasculitic lesions. GMA was performed using a column with a capacity of 335 mL, filled with cellulose acetate beads that selectively adsorb granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages (Adacolumn). Each patient received one GMA session/week for five consecutive weeks. The duration of one session was 60 min, with a flow rate of 30 mL/min. Results The ulcers began to recede after two GMA sessions and, by the end of the fifth session, the ulcers in all three patients had healed. No recurrence has been observed up to the time of this report. The treatment was well tolerated and no severe side‐effects were observed. Conclusions GMA, which depletes activated neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, appears to be effective for inflammatory skin ulcers which do not respond to conventional medications.