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Safety and efficacy of leukocytapheresis in elderly patients with ulcerative colitis: The impact in steroid‐free elderly patients
Author(s) -
Komoto Shunsuke,
Matsuoka Katsuyoshi,
Kobayashi Taku,
Yokoyama Yoko,
Suzuki Yasuo,
Hibi Toshifumi,
Miura Soichiro,
Hokari Ryota
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.14116
Subject(s) - medicine , ulcerative colitis , steroid use , colitis , steroid , intensive care medicine , disease , hormone
Abstract Background and Aim The number of elderly patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing. Several new therapies for UC have improved patient outcomes. Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is an extracorporeal therapy for UC. However, its efficacy and safety for elderly UC patients has not been reported. Methods We conducted a post hoc analysis of data from a large, prospective, observational study of LCAP, conducted at 116 medical facilities in Japan between May 2010 and December 2012. Of 847 patients included in this analysis, LCAP was used in 75 (8.9%) elderly patients (≥ 65 years) and 772 (91.1%) non‐elderly patients. Results There were no serious adverse events in the elderly, and the rate of adverse events between the non‐elderly and elderly was not different. Overall rate of remission was also not different between the two groups. In patients who were not on concomitant treatment with corticosteroids, the rate of remission was significantly higher in the elderly group than in the non‐elderly group (90.9% [20/22] vs 64.6% [135/209], P = 0.02). Conclusions Real‐world data demonstrate that the safety and tolerability of LCAP were comparable in the elderly and non‐elderly groups, indicating that it is well tolerated by elderly UC patients.