CLINICAL-TRIALS OF IMMUNOADSORBENT IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS THERAPY

Five patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were perfused th rough an extracorporeal shunt filled with DNA-immunoadsorbent (DNA imm obilized on carbonized resin beads). High concentrations of anti-DNA a ntibodies (36.4-67.0%) (binding percentage with I-125-DNA) in the seru m of SLE patients were reduced to 13.8-53.0%, respectively. The highes t removal percentage was 62.1%. Although the decline levels varied, th e symptoms of patients, i.e., long-term severe joint pain, severe edem a, hydropericardium, and ascites were all relieved considerably. The i mmunoadsorbent showed satisfactory blood compatibility.