Polystyrene derivatives as candidates for extracorporeal adsorption of Factor VIII antibodies in the management of haemophiliac patients.
OBJECTIVE
This article presents a new approach for removing the Factor VIII inhibitors (anti-FVIII) in haemophiliac patients by immunoadsorption using an affinity matrix.


METHODS
Ten blood samples from haemophiliac patients with anti-FVIII were assayed for antibodies, total immunoglobulins, procoagulant proteins and complement C3 protein after circulation over one or two columns filled with the polymers under investigation.


RESULTS
These new synthetic sorbents are able to remove in vitro 90% of anti-FVIII from haemophiliac plasma with inhibitors (up to 540 Bethesda Units/ml). Neither coagulation factor adsorption nor effects on complement system activation were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented clearly show that these polymers allow a rapid and efficient reduction of inhibitor titre. In view of the parameters studied, these polymers fulfil the requirements for use in a blood purification process to decrease high inhibitor titres without losing essential proteins.
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D019468:Disease Management; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000276:immunology*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000592:standards
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D003176:Complement C3; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D005169:Factor VIII