Treatment of chronic dilated cardiomyopathy with immunoadsorption using the staphylococcal A-agarose column: a comparison of immunoglobulin reduction using two different techniques.

Auto-antibodies to myocardial antigens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A protein A immunoadsorption affinity column system was used to remove IgG antibodies, particularly IgG3. Two techniques, the standard technique (T-1) used for removal of IgG Factor VIII inhibitors and a technique (T-2) designed to enhance IgG3 removal and address issues in venous access, minimize positive fluid balance, and adverse reactions were compared. A total of four patients were treated, two patients were treated for 5 consecutive days with each technique. T-2 resulted in larger, but not significantly so, IgG3 reduction (70% and 63%) than T-1 (53% and 59%). Both techniques lowered total IgG levels by >or=93%. Because of venous access problems, 60% of T-1 procedures reached the plasma volume target versus 100% for T-2. Positive fluid balance was significantly lower for T-2 (+507 +/- 465) ml versus T-1 (+2,206 +/- 724) ml. Overall adverse event (AE) rate (T-1:16, T-2:15) was similar between the techniques but demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the types of reactions that occurred. All AE were mild in nature, common to other apheresis procedures, and were easily managed. This small study, demonstrated that a modified technique (T-2) with superior fluid balance should be used when treating DCM with the Immunosorba system.