Evaluation of 5 versus 10 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions in steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis: A pilot, prospective, multicenter, randomized study

Table 1 Demographics and baseline characteristics

	Group 1 (n = 9)	Group 2 (n = 11)
Age (yr)	38.1 ± 13.5	44.6 ± 16.6
Gender (male/female)	6/3	6/5
Smoking habit (smoker/non- smoker/former-smoker)	0/7/2	0/4/7
Steroid dose at study entrance (mg/d)	43 ± 10.31	35 ± 14.91
Previous medications
5-ASA	9	11
Azathioprine	5	6
Methotrexate	0	1
Cyclosporin A	1	3
Disease duration (mo)	36 ± 32.3	78 ± 42.8
Nº of previous flares in the last 12 mo	2.33 ± 0.71	2.22 ± 1.09
Nº of previous admissions to hospital	1.33 ± 1.22	1.18 ± 1.25
Site of disease
Proctosigmoiditis	1	4
Left sided colitis	4	4
Extensive colitis	2	1
Pancolitis	2	2
CAI	8.0 ± 1.0	7.9 ± 1.2
EAI	8.7 ± 3.7	8.8 ± 2.2
IBDQ	106 (230-70)	147 (224-100)
CRP (mg/L)	8 (23.1-2.5)	4.6 (13.6-0.5)

All data expressed as mean ± SD or median (max-min). CAI: clinical activity index; EAI: endoscopic activity index; CRP: C reactive protein.