Changes of the complement system and rheological indicators after therapy with rheohemapheresis.
BACKGROUND
In the last 10 years, many studies have been published on the role of the complement system in microcirculation disorders. However, as for the changes of complement components after rheohemapheresis, there is still a lack of detailed data in the literature. Complement changes may play an important role in pathogenesis of some microcirculation disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and acute hearing loss. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of rheohemapheresis on the basic complement pathways.


METHODS
32 patients were treated with rheohemapheresis, including 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), mean age 69.7 ± 6.06 years (range 62-87 years) and 16 patients (11 men and 5 women) aged 56.4 ± 11.5 (range 34-73 years) for acute hearing loss.


RESULTS
Rheohemapheresis led to a significant drop of all three complement-activation pathways in both groups of patients. Moreover, complement factor H was also reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed reduction in all three basic complement activation pathways after rheohemapheresis could be clinically important. The search continues both to find substances which influence complement systems and to develop more effective new drugs that require less frequent administration and that provide improved intraocular therapy for AMD patients.
4th Department of Internal Medicine - Hematology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Electronic address: blaham@email.cz.
M
M
Blaha
Institute of Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
C
C
Andrys
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
H
H
Langrova
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
J
J
Studnicka
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
J
J
Drsata
4th Department of Internal Medicine - Hematology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
M
M
Lanska
3rd Department of Medicine - Metabolic Care and Gerontology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
V
V
Blaha
4th Department of Internal Medicine - Hematology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
P
P
Zak
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D003167:Complement Activation; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C493495:CFH protein, human; D017242:Complement Factor H; D003165:Complement System Proteins
Age-related macular degeneration; Complement; Rheology; Rheopheresis; Sudden sensorial hearing loss