Severe alcoholic hepatitis with extremely high neutrophil count successfully treated by granulocytapheresis

Abstract

We report a severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) patient with an extremely high WBC count, high serum bilirubin and low prothrombin time (PT) successfully treated with granulocytapheresis. After neutrophil-elastase inhibitor failed to reduce WBC count, methylprednisolone pulse therapy was performed. However, WBC count continued to be elevated to 97,190/ μl (neutrophils 97.0%) despite improvement of total bilirubin and PT. After 5 sessions of granulocytapheresis and ulinastatin administration, increased serum IL-6, IL-8, neutrophil-elastase and WBC count gradually decreased. We could conclude that granulocytapheresis and ulinastatin can be very effective in reducing cytokines and neutrophil-elastase, and in improving the general status of SAH patients. © 2006 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.