Adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis: A potentially relevant therapeutic option for COVID-19

Takuro Kanekura; Koichi Kawahara

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.07.025

Adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis: A potentially relevant therapeutic option for COVID-19

Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Oct:99:1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.07.025. Epub 2020 Jul 25.

Authors

Takuro Kanekura¹, Koichi Kawahara²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan. Electronic address: takurok@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
² Laboratory of Functional Foods, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan.

Abstract

The overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and subsequent thromboembolism are major problems of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA), used for ulcerative colitis, is an extracorporeal therapy designed to remove activated myeloid lineage cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that GMA decreases proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil-platelet aggregates. The effect of GMA on COVID-19 in a patient with ulcerative colitis was recently reported. The modes of action of GMA together with the findings of this case report indicate that GMA could be a relevant treatment option for COVID-19.

Keywords: Adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Adult
Betacoronavirus*
Blood Component Removal / methods*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
Cytokines / metabolism
Female
Granulocytes*
Humans
Male
Monocytes*
Neutrophils
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / therapy*
SARS-CoV-2
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Cytokines