Selective granulocyte and monocyte apheresis as a new adjunct to enhance the efficacy of interferon-alpha + ribavirin in patients with high plasma hepatitis C virus

Granulocyte and monocyte apheresis appears to deplete extra-hepatic hepatitis C virus reservoirs and generate active complement opsonins, which contribute to hepatitis C virus killing. Additional mechanism(s) are also likely and need to be elucidated in future studies with larger cohort of patients.