New technique of leukocytapheresis by the use of nonwoven polyester fiber filter for inflammatory bowel disease.

Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is widely used for the treatment of immunological diseases. We studied a new treatment of LCAP using a nonwoven polyester fiber filter. In a basic study, 30-70% of leukocytes were removed. Also, 30-68% of the leukocyte subsets were removed. Sixteen inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, mainly with ulcerative colitis (UC), were treated by this method. Their cytokine activity was normalized in the filter and in the peripheral blood. Eleven of 12 patients with UC were induced to remission. Four patients with Crohn's disease (CD) exhibited improvement. The LCAP using a nonwoven polyester fiber filter was very efficient for treating the patients with IBD. Also, it will be a very useful treatment for immunological diseases and extracorporeal immunomodulation.