Immunohistological changes in dilated cardiomyopathy induced by immunoadsorption therapy and subsequent immunoglobulin substitution.
BACKGROUND
Immunoadsorption (IA) and subsequent immunoglobulin (Ig) G substitution represent an additional therapeutic approach in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). It remains to be elucidated whether this treatment modulates myocardial inflammation, which is possibly a causal factor of ventricular dysfunction.


RESULTS
From 25 DCM patients (EF <30%), 12 patients were randomized for IA therapy and subsequent IgG substitution at 1-month intervals until month 3. Before (<7 days) and after IA therapy, right ventricular biopsies were obtained from all patients. Biopsies were also obtained at intervals of 3 months from 13 patients without IA/IgG treatment (controls). IA/IgG treatment induced improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction from 21.3+/-1.7% (+/-SEM) to 27.0+/-1.3% (P<0.01 versus baseline/controls) and reduction of the beta-receptor autoantibody serum levels (P<0.01 versus baseline/controls). The number of CD3 cells decreased from 5.7+/-0.8 to 2.9+/-0.5 cells/mm(2) (P<0.01 versus baseline/controls). This decline was paralleled by a decrease in CD4 (P<0.01 versus baseline/controls) and CD8 (P<0.05 versus baseline/controls) lymphocytes. The number of leukocyte common antigen-positive cells (leukocytes) was reduced from 20.0+/-3.2 to 9.9+/-2.8 cells/mm(2) (P<0.01 versus baseline/P<0.05 versus controls). HLA class II expression decreased from 2.1+/-0.7% to 1.1+/-0.4% (P<0.05 versus controls/baseline). The number of immunopositive cells and the expression of HLA class II in controls remained stable. In both groups, the degree of fibrosis remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
IA and subsequent IgG substitution mitigate myocardial inflammation in DCM.
Staudt
A
A
Klinik für Innere Medizin B, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald, Germany. staudt@mail.uni-greifswald.de
Schäper
F
F
Stangl
V
V
Plagemann
A
A
Böhm
M
M
Merkel
K
K
Wallukat
G
G
Wernecke
K D
KD
Stangl
K
K
Baumann
G
G
Felix
S B
SB
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001323:Autoantibodies; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta