title: Immunoadsorption, current status and future developments.
abstract: The association of abnormalities in the cellular and humoral immune system with various autoimmune diseases provides the rationale for apheresis technologies. While plasmapheresis or plasma exchange is limited by its non-selective removal of all plasma components, modern apheresis techniques aim to provide more specific elimination according to clinical needs and avoid plasma product replacement. However, the commercialisation has not met the expectations in the early 80's and the number of patients treated by extracorporeal immunoadsorption remains small due to a lack of well-defined controlled trials and limited reimbursement. This review highlights the immunological and technical basis for extracorporeal immunoadsorption, as well as its current status in the treatment of immunologically-mediated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Sektion Nieren-und Hochdruckkrankheiten, Medizinische Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. nbraun@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bosch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D007164:Immunosorbents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007164:Immunosorbents; D008024:Ligands