Current status on the clinical usefulness of apheresis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

SUMMARY
In this review the current aspects concerning the application
of leukocytapheresis in patients with inflammatory
bowel disease are briefly discussed. Leukocytapheresis has
already been applied in patients suffering mainly from diseases
affecting the immunological balance. The procedure
has recently been tried in patients with ulcerative colitis
and Crohns disease as well, with promising results. Leukocytapheresis
is gaining in interest as a therapeutic procedure
of the near future, because it removes - in a short
time- a number of immunologically active cells, which are
well known to actively participate in the inflammatory cascade,
leading to tissue damage. However, further studies
are needed in order to better clarify the role of leukocytapheresis
in the maintenance treatment of patients with inflammatory
bowel disease, either alone, or in combination
with drugs of known efficacy in IBD.
Key words: Apheresis, Leucocytapheresis, Inflammatory
bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease