The purpose of this study is to determine whether a treatment of a novel leukapheresis column is safe and effective in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing disease and is characterized by superficial inflammation in the colonic epithelium. The inflammation is maintained by continuous supply of inflammatory cells from the circulating blood to the intestinal mucosa. Existing therapy e.g. corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are inadequate with an overall long-term remission rate of only 50-60%. Those treatments are also associated with severe side effects why there is a need of new therapies. The aim of this study is to investigate a novel leukapheresis treatment with the potential to reduce the number of inflammatory cells homing to the gut mucosa. By drawing blood from the patient and pass it through the investigational column the inflammatory cells are removed. The blood, depleted of the inflammatory cells, is returned to the patient. The treatment thus enable down-regulation of the inflammation and consequently the inflammation can heal. The treatment is called Tailored leukapheresis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
23
Five consecutive treatment sessions. The therapy will be administrated every second day.
Five consecutive treatment sessions. The placebo therapy will be administrated every second day.
Södersjukhuset
Stockholm, Sweden
Expression level of MHC class II on antigen presenting cells.
The primary outcome will be assessed by flow cytometry.
Time frame: change from baseline at day 5, 12, 28, 42 and 98.
The number of cells and/or expression level of gut homing and activation markers on lymphocytes and monocytes. Safety and tolerability. Clinical effect on signs and symptoms of the disease.
The immunological analysis will be peformed by flow cytometry. The safety will be measured by recording adverese events at each visit. The disease activity will be assessed by using the Mayo Score Questionnaire.
Time frame: change from baseline at day 5, 12,28, 42, 98.
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