Extracorporeal Photopheresis old - Swiss Health Clinic

What is ECP?

Extracorporeal Photopheresis

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) stands as a therapeutic intervention employed for various medical purposes, including the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as myatrophic lateral sclerosis, Charcot disease, or Lou Gehrig’s syndrome. During ECP, white blood cells are gathered through a process called apheresis, lasting around 2 hours. Following collection, these cells undergo methoxsalen treatment, making them sensitive to UV light, and are subsequently exposed to UV-A light. This UV radiation effectively eliminates ALS cells. The treated white blood cells are then reintroduced to the patient through an intravenous (IV) infusion.

Process

How it works?

ECP treatment typically spans 2-3 hours and is conducted on an outpatient basis over two consecutive days. Subsequent treatments are administered based on the severity of the disease and the patient’s response, initially occurring after 14 days and then at longer intervals, adapting to the progression of the disease.

The primary objective of this well-tolerated therapy, characterized by minimal side effects, is to eliminate ALS cells, thereby interrupting the blockage in the extrapyramidal nerve tracts.