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Safety and efficacy of high-dose leukocytapheresis in patients with refractory asthma

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Abstract

Objective and design

An open-label, non-randomized, single-arm study was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of high-dose leukocytapheresis (pulse LCAP) for refractory asthma.

Subjects

Six patients who fulfilled the ATS workshop criteria for refractory asthma were enrolled and completed this clinical study.

Treatment

After 4 weeks of observation, pulse LCAP using a large LCAP filter, Cellsorba® CS-180S, was performed twice with a 1-week interval at a target dose of 5 L per treatment session.

Methods

The clinical response was assessed by monitoring the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) twice a day. The asthma control test (ACT) was used to evaluate the condition of asthma symptoms. The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) as a biomarker for eosinophilic airway inflammation was measured using a chemiluminescence analyzer.

Results

PEFR in the morning or the evening and the sum total of the score on the ACT were increased after two consecutive sessions of pulse LCAP. FeNO decreased after pulse LCAP.

Conclusions

The results suggest the efficacy of pulse LCAP for refractory asthma.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by Health and Labour Science Research Grants (main investigator: Takahiro Tsuburai, M.D.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan

    Tamotsu Ishizuka, Takeshi Hisada, Shinichi Matsuzaki, Yosuke Kamide, Mitsuyoshi Utsugi, Haruka Aoki, Reiko Yoshino, Noriko Yanagitani, Yasuhiko Koga, Akihiro Ono, Kyoichi Kaira, Noriaki Sunaga, Kunio Dobashi, Masanobu Yamada & Masatomo Mori

  2. Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan

    Tamotsu Ishizuka

  3. Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan

    Motoaki Hatori & Kazuhiro Suzuki

  4. Central Supply, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan

    Akio Koike & Kikuo Hanabuchi

  5. Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, 18-1 Sakuradai, Sagamihara, 228-8522, Japan

    Takahiro Tsuburai & Kazuo Akiyama

Authors
  1. Tamotsu Ishizuka
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  2. Takeshi Hisada
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Correspondence to Tamotsu Ishizuka.

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Responsible Editor: Ikuo Morita.

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Ishizuka, T., Hisada, T., Hatori, M. et al. Safety and efficacy of high-dose leukocytapheresis in patients with refractory asthma. Inflamm. Res. 63, 789–796 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-014-0753-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-014-0753-1

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