Single‐Needle Intensive Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorptive Apheresis Is Suitable for Elderly Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis Taking no Corticosteroids or Biologics

Twice‐weekly intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis is effective and safe for ulcerative colitis, but maintaining two blood access routes is problematic. We previously reported that intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis using a single needle in ulcerative colitis is effective and safe. We hypothesized that the efficacy and safety of single‐needle intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis for ulcerative colitis would especially benefit the elderly. We enrolled 17 elderly ulcerative colitis patients to receive single‐needle intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis, 27 elderly ulcerative colitis patients to receive double‐needle intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis, and 52 nonelderly ulcerative colitis patients to receive single‐needle intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis. Remission and mucosal healing rates after treatment did not differ significantly between elderly ulcerative colitis patients receiving single‐needle apheresis and the other two groups. In addition, no serious adverse effects, including blood clots, were observed in single‐needle intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis patients. Single‐needle intensive granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis might be a novel alternative therapeutic option for elderly ulcerative colitis patients before considering corticosteroids.