First Human Application of a Novel Adsorptive‐Type Cytapheresis Module in Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Pilot Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, technical performance and clinical efficacy of a novel adsorptive-type cytapheresis module in patients with active ulcerative colitis. Ten patients with ulcerative colitis (clinical activity index 6–10) were recruited. The new adsorber (Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan) was specifically designed to remove platelets, granulocytes and monocytes from peripheral blood using an extracorporeal circulation. Cytapheresis treatments were performed weekly for five consecutive weeks (each with a 60-min duration). Safety and tolerability were evaluated by investigating vital parameters, routine laboratory tests, adverse event reporting and a questionnaire. Disease activity was evaluated by assessing the clinical activity index as well as the endoscopic index, according to Rachmilewitz. Technical performance and biocompatibility were investigated by repeated measurements of cellular blood count, complement factor C3a and cell surface markers before, during and after the apheresis treatments. The cytapheresis treatments were “well” to “very well” tolerated by the patients. All measured safety parameters remained essentially unchanged. Performance data showed that platelets, monocytes and neutrophil granulocytes were effectively reduced during the cytapheresis treatments. Apheresis treatment was associated with high remission rates (80% at week 10). Clinical remission was accompanied by the reduction of the endoscopic index in four out of the nine eligible patients. Levels of C3a did not significantly increase during cytapheresis treatments. The novel device has been shown to be safe, well tolerated and clinically efficient. It offered a very good biocompatibility and platelet elimination capacity.