Detection of anti-erythropoietin antibodies in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human-erythropoietin.
An enzyme-immunoassay was developed to evaluate the presence of anti-erythropoietin antibodies in plasma samples obtained from renal failure patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO). The assay was specific and reproducible. Normal donors had no antibodies to EPO, while 67% of treated patients were positive to the assay. While the specificity of anti-EPO IgG antibodies was high, their affinity for the antigen was low. This finding can be explained by the very small differences in the structure of rh-EPO compared to that of natural EPO. The assay described could be useful in evaluating the long-term effects of rh-EPO treatment on the control of anaemia in renal failure patients.
Castelli
G
G
Sezione Aggregata di Immunoterapia Cellulare, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genoa, 18132, Italy.
Famularo
A
A
Semino
C
C
Machi
A M
AM
Ceci
A
A
Cannella
G
G
Melioli
G
G
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000906:Antibodies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin