aferesis

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: Granulocyte-monocyte apheresis (GMA) has shown to be safe and effective in treating ulcerative colitis (UC), also in combination with biologics. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining GMA after primary non-response (PNR) or loss of response (LOR) to tofacitinib (TOFA) in patients with UC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study including all patients with refractory UC who received GMA plus TOFA. Efficacy was assessed 1 and 6 months after finishing GMA by partial Mayo score, C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin (FC)...

AIM: Granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) is a potential therapeutic option when combined with various drugs for treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). In this study, we analyze the efficacy and safety of GMA combined with vedolizumab (VDZ) during induction in patients with moderate-severe UC and incomplete response to steroids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single-center retrospective review of patients receiving GMA + VDZ. Data on the disease and previous treatments were collected...

OBJECTIVE: Primary non-response and secondary loss of response to anti-TNF agents are common in inflammatory bowel disease. Increasing drug concentrations are correlated to better clinical response and remission rates. Combination of granulocyte-monocyte apheresis (GMA) with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents could be an option in these patients. The objective of our study was to perform an in vitro assay to determine if the GMA device can lead to infliximab (IFX) adsorption. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A blood sample was obtained from a healthy control...

Despite the effectiveness of plasma exchange (PEX) and immunosuppressants in the treatment of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), a number of patients still die as a result of the disease. Whether caplacizumab could rescue these patients remains still unsettled. The objective of this study was to characterise mortality patterns and prognostic factors in the first episode of aTTP.We queried the Spanish TTP Registry for patients with a diagnosis of aTTP in their presenting episode who fulfilled complete clinical and follow-up data (n = 102)...

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by the development of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and ischaemic organ dysfunction associated with ADAMTS13 levels lower than 10% in most cases. Recently there have been numerous advances in the field of PTT, new, rapid and accessible techniques capable of quantifying ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors. The massive sequencing systems facilitate the identification of polymorphisms in the ADAMTS13 gene...

There is considerable heterogeneity in manipulation and cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for autologous HSC transplantation across Europe and Italy. To better address this point, three Italian Scientific Societies (GITMO- Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo; SIDEM- Società Italiana Emaferesi e Manipolazione Cellulare; and GIIMA- Gruppo Italiano Interdisciplinare Manipolazione e Aferesi per Terapie Cellulari), in collaboration with the Competent Authority "National Transplant Center" (CNT) sent to 85 Italian transplant centers (TC) a survey, which included 12 questions related to the most critical elements in graft processing...

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an established treatment strategy in steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This study's main objective was to analyze the clinical response and impact of ECP therapy in steroid dose reduction. A retrospective observational series of 113 patients from 7 transplantation centers was analyzed. Sixty-five patients (58%) had acute GVHD (aGVHD), and 48 (42%) had chronic GVHD (cGVHD). All ECP procedures were performed with the off-line system. The median number of procedures until achievement of initial response was 3 for both patients with aGVHD and those with cGVHD...

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is the elective therapy for homozygous and other forms of Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Familial Combined Hypercholesterolemia, resistant/intolerant to lipid lowering drugs, and hyper-lipoproteinemia(a). Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has been classified as the most prevalent genetic risk factor for coronary artery disease and aortic valve stenosis. AIM: Our multicenter retrospective study has the aim to analyze the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events (ACVE) before and during the LA treatment, in subjects with elevated level of Lp(a) (>60 mg/dL) [hyper-Lp(a)] and chronic ischemic heart disease...

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are disorders defined by the presence of a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (with the characteristic hallmark of schistocytes in the peripheral blood smear), thrombocytopenia and organ malfunction of variable intensity. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome are the most important forms of TMA and, without the adequate treatment, they are associated with high morbimortality. In recent years, significant advances in the knowledge of the pathophysiology of TMA have occurred...

We review the available literature on granulocyte-monocyte apheresis for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and report the outcome data of a multicenter observational study from the Italian registry for therapeutic apheresis.

BACKGROUND: Between 30% and 60% of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) relapse and mortality remains at 15-20%. Limited clinical data suggest that the administration of anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab) may be useful in preventing acute refractory and chronic relapsing TTP. DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied the clinical response to rituximab in 24 adult patients (median age 42 years, range 24-72 years) from 15 Spanish centers with an acute refractory (14 patients) or acute relapsing (10 patients) episode of idiopathic TTP...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Methylene blue photo-inactivated plasma (MBPIP) has been reported to be less effective than fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which suggests a reduced content of the von Willebrand factor metalloprotease ADAMTS-13 in MBPIP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ADAMTS-13 activity and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) levels were measured in plasma before and after photo-oxidation by either the Springe method or a commercial 'in house' system as well as in cryoprecipitate-poor plasma (CPP) and FFP (20 units each)...

Blood transfusion during surgery for solid tumors may reduce patient survival because of various bioactive substances present in blood preparations. The anti-proteolytic protein tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) present in large quantities in platelets has been shown to stimulate cell growth and to inhibit apoptosis and may therefore be considered to influence tumor progression. We measured TIMP-1 levels in blood transfusion preparations. especially in platelet-containing preparations, before and after leucofiltration and at different time-points during storage...

Authors expose their experience with autotransfusion, made during several years in a general surgery university department. Discussion is made about ethic and economical aspect of the philosophy guiding the most general concept of blood sparing, and different methods of autotransfusion; attention is then focused on practical experience made during two years (1995-1997) when the program worked well. On the whole, in 94 patients, 172 blood units were collected plus 10 plasma units obtained by aferesis. No method-related complications are have been observed...