Shunsuke Komoto1, Katsuyoshi Matsuoka2, Taku Kobayashi3, Yoko Yokoyama4, Yasuo Suzuki5, Toshifumi Hibi3, Soichiro Miura6, Ryota Hokari1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan. 2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Center for Advanced IBD Research and Treatment, Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Division of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. 5. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Medical Centre, Sakura Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. 6. International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan.
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.
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.