Treatment with Adacolumn in patients with hepatitis C related who have undergone kidney transplantation: Preliminary study G. Novelli 1 1 La Sapienza University Introduction: Patients who have undergone kidney transplant and suffer from hepatic C related (HCV) cannot be treated with standard therapy (PEG-IFN combined with ribavirine) due to acute rejection risk. Furthermore, immuno-suppressive therapy facilitates progression and infection and chronic hepatopathesis. Monocytes and macrophages are known to produce extra-hepatic breeding sites and spread disease. Our aim was to lower macrophages, granulocytes,monocytes, pro-inflammatory cells and viremia levels using an extra-corporeal device:Adacolumn®(OTZUKA). Methods: The Adalcolumn filter is filled with 2mm. cellulose acetate beads immersed in sterile saline solution. These carriers absorb granulocytes and monocytes/macrophanges through FCR receptors. Six patients were treated in our department. All patients were affected by virale genotype 1b. Patients underwent five 1hour treatments for five consecutive days according to protocol. Results: During treatment cycles and successive follow ups we observed a stabilization of kidney parameters and a non significant decrease in transaminase levels. At 3 rd month follow up we observed a significant decrease in plasma HCV-RNA in 3 patients (p<0.01) associated with attenuation of inflammatory phase (p<0.2) and variations in immunomodulation. only one patient presented altered CD4+ and CD8+ where positive was observed at 3 rd month. In another patient, even though immunomodulation improved, there was no reduction in viremia. Conclusions: Considering the results this method should be used on a greater number of patients evaluating successive treatment times in case of viremia increase. Background: Patients who have undergone kidney transplant and suffer from hepatic C related (HCV) cannot be treated with standard therapy (PEG-IFN combined with ribavirine) due to acute rejection risk. Furthermore, immuno-suppressive therapy facilitates progression and infection and chronic hepatopathesis. Monocytes and macrophages are known to produce extra-hepatic breeding sites and spread disease. Our aim was to lower macrophages, granulocytes,monocytes, pro-inflammatory cells and viremia levels using an extra-corporeal device:Adacolumn®(OTZUKA). Methods: The Adalcolumn filter is filled with 2mm. cellulose acetate beads immersed in sterile saline solution. These carriers absorb granulocytes and monocytes/macrophanges through FCR receptors. Six patients were treated in our department. All patients were affected by virale genotype 1b. Patients underwent five 1hour treatments for five consecutive days according to protocol. Results: During treatment cycles and successive follow ups we observed a stabilization of kidney parameters and a non significant decrease in transaminase levels. At 3 rd month follow up we observed a significant decrease in plasma HCV-RNA in 3 patients (p<0.01) associated with attenuation of inflammatory phase (p<0.2) and variations in immunomodulation. only one patient presented altered CD4+ and CD8+ where positive was observed at 3 rd month. In another patient, even though immunomodulation improved, there was no reduction in viremia. Conclusions: The treatment was found to be safe without hemodynamic or infective complications. Considering the results this method should be used on a greater number of patients evaluating successive treatment times in case of viremia increase.