Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis Successfully Treated by Leukocytapheresis: A Case Report

Abstract

GCAP is recommended as a potential therapeutic option for severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Alcoholic liver disease

“…Although the results of early studies were optimistic, with better than predicted outcomes in treated patients, a further case series was less promising 226. Case reports have also described the outcome of patients with severe AH treated with leukocytapharesis after failing to improve substantially on steroids 227, 228. These reports are promising, but recommendations regarding their appropriate use must await results of comparative studies of outcomes in these patients.…”

Granulocytapheresis (GCAP) for severe alcoholic hepatitis—A preliminary report

“…The remaining six patients were treated with GCAP. The second of these six cases was already reported elsewhere as the first survival case [2].…”

Granulocytapheresis and plasma exchange for severe alcoholic hepatitis

“…Each patient had received up to five GMA sessions, at one or two sessions/week as a basic treatment course. Given that neutrophils are the major components of elevated WBC counts 25,28–30 and that GMA selectively depletes myeloid linage leucocytes, 26,27 the survival rates seen in this figure clearly show that: (a) high neutrophil count in SAH is pathologic and (b) depleting neutrophils/monocytes has a significant affect on the prognosis. Therefore, the results strongly favored GMA (albeit the sample size was small in this retrospective study).…”