CLINICAL-TRIALS OF TYPE-I AND IN-VITRO STUDIES OF TYPE-II IMMUNOADSORBENTS FOR SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS THERAPY

A highly selective immunoadsorbent was prepared by immobilization of D NA on carbonized resin beads (Type I) for the removal of the pathogeni c antibodies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Thirty ca ses of clinical trials of this SLE therapy were performed at 12 hospit als in China. The levels of anti-DNA antibodies after whole blood perf usion were decreased 40-70%. Almost all the symptoms were relieved, an d some patients were freed from medicine administration. A new immunoa dsorbent was prepared using aminated cellulose beads (Type II) having a higher DNA immobilization capacity of 0.6 mg/ml than the 0.4 mg/ml c apacity for Type I. Stationary adsorption tests with the sera of SLE p atients showed that the Type II immunoadsorbent could remove 60% of th e pathogenic antibodies, which is much higher than the 30% for the Typ e I adsorbent.