Combination therapy with adalimumab plus intensive granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis induced clinical remission in a Crohn's disease patient with the loss of response to scheduled adalimumab maintenance therapy: a case report

Intern Med. 2012;51(6):595-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6801. Epub 2012 Mar 15.

Abstract

A 21-year-old Caucasian man with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) at the age of 14 was admitted to our hospital due to CD flare-up while under scheduled adalimumab (ADA) maintenance therapy. His symptoms remained virtually unchanged following high dose corticosteroid therapy. Seven days later, combination therapy with ADA plus intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) was initiated, which induced clinical remission. Therefore, combination therapy with ADA plus intensive GMA appears to be an effective therapeutic option for patients with severe CD while under scheduled ADA maintenance therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Colonoscopy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Crohn Disease / drug therapy*
  • Crohn Disease / therapy
  • Granulocytes
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Leukapheresis*
  • Leukocyte Reduction Procedures*
  • Male
  • Mercaptopurine / administration & dosage
  • Mercaptopurine / therapeutic use
  • Mesalamine / administration & dosage
  • Mesalamine / therapeutic use
  • Metronidazole / administration & dosage
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Monocytes
  • Parenteral Nutrition, Total
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Remission Induction
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Metronidazole
  • Mesalamine
  • Prednisolone
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Adalimumab