Published online May 7, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i17.4389
Peer-review started: December 4, 2015
First decision: December 31, 2015
Revised: February 15, 2016
Accepted: March 2, 2016
Article in press: March 2, 2016
Published online: May 7, 2016
Processing time: 148 Days and 23.2 Hours
AIM: To investigate efficacy and safety for granulocyte, monocyte apheresis in a population of pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis.
METHODS: The ADAPT study was a prospective, open-label, multicenter study in pediatric patients with moderate, active ulcerative colitis with pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index (PUCAI) of 35-64. Patients received one weekly apheresis with Adacolumn® granulocyte, monocyte/macrophage adsorptive (GMA) apheresis over 5 consecutive weeks, optionally followed by up to 3 additional apheresis treatments over 3 consecutive weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in mean PUCAI between baseline and week 12; the secondary endpoint was improvement in PUCAI categorized as (Significant Improvement, PUCAI decrease of ≥ 35), Moderate Improvement (PUCAI decrease of 20 < 35), Small Improvement (PUCAI decrease of 10 < 20) or No change (PUCAI decrease of < 10).
RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (mean age 13.5 years; mean weight 47.7 kg) were enrolled. In the intention-to-treat set (ITT), the mean value for PUCAI improvement was 22.3 [95%CI: 12.9-31.6; n = 21]. In the per-protocol (PP) set, the mean improvement was 36.3 [95%CI: 31.4-41.1; n = 8]. Significant Improvement was recorded for 9 out of 20 patients (45%); 5 out of 20 patients (25%) had Moderate Improvement and one patient (5%) had No Change in PUCAI score at week 12. In the PP set, six out of eight patients (75%) showed Significant Improvement; and in two out of eight patients (25%) Moderate Improvement was recorded. The endoscopic activity index (EAI) decreased by 3 points on average. Seven (7) out of 21 (33%) patients in ITT and 4 out of 8 (50%) patients in PP have used steroids during the clinical investigation. The mean steroid dosage for these patients in the ITT set decreased from a mean 12.4 mg to 10 mg daily on average from Baseline to week 12.
CONCLUSION: Adacolumn® GMA apheresis treatment was effective in pediatric patients with moderate active Ulcerative Colitis. No new safety signals were reported. The present data contribute to considering GMA apheresis as a therapeutic option in pediatric patients having failed first line therapy.
Core tip: For a considerable group of children with ulcerative colitis (UC), treatment options are limited especially after failure of conventional treatment. The ADAPT trial was designed to generate prospective cohort data on efficacy and safety levels in moderate active pediatric UC patients when treated with Adacolumn granulocyte, monocyte/macrophage adsorptive (GMA). The present data contribute to considering GMA apheresis as a therapeutic option in pediatric patients having failed first line therapy.