Extracorporeal leukocyte removal therapy for patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate efficacy of leukocytapheresis (LCAP) or granulocytapheresis (GCAP) in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), including reduction of the total dose and side-effects of corticosteroids.

Methods: Courses of five Japanese adolescents with UC were analyzed. Four patients had recurrent UC with repeated remissions and exacerbations despite therapy including 5-aminosalicylic acid in combination with a corticosteroid.

Efficacy of interferon-alpha treatment in Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: We investigated the efficacy of natural interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment in 34 Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Thirty-four children completed 6 months of therapy with natural IFN-alpha and were followed for 12 months or longer. We examined the serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titer and liver histology before, during, and after IFN treatment.