Fig. 1.

Effect of granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMAA) on UC patient with concomitant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Cases of steroid-resistant UC patients with concomitant HCMV infection who were successfully treated with GMAA. Forty-nine female patients with UC, who were refractory to 60 mg of prednisolone (PSL), were transferred to our hospital. HCMV antigenemia, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and HCMV-DNA in the colonic mucosa were observed. After starting gancyclovir (5 mg/kg), abdominal symptoms such as hematochezia and abdominal pain did not subside. We initiated intensive GMAA (twice/week). After 10 applications of GMAA, the abdominal symptoms disappeared and PSL could be completely tapered. Sigmoidoscopy 3 months after initiation of GMAA showed the disappearance of the ulcerative lesions and scar formation. 5-ASA, 5-aminosalicylic acid.