CLINICAL AND BASIC STUDIES ON THE G-1 COLUMN, A NEW EXTRACORPOREAL THERAPEUTIC DEVICE EFFECTIVE IN CONTROLLING RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The G-1 column, which is filled with cellulose acetate spherical beads of 2 mm diameter, is a new type of extracorporeal perfusion device or iginally designed to remove granulocytes from the venous circulation o f patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A dramatic improvement in clinic al symptoms was seen after treatment with the G-1 column in two succes sive clinical trials. Early effects include pain relief, reduction in the swollen joints, and a continued decrease in inflammation as a late effect. The results were further confirmed in the adjuvant arthritic rat model. G-1 beads adsorb some amounts of platelets at the beginning and then about a quarter of circulating neutrophils, monocytes, natur al killer cells, and B cells, but not T cells. Various factors release d from blood cells during transit through the column must have influen ced the cells including lymphocytes which passed through the column. G -1 column actually eliminates some parts of aggressive leukocytes, but a more interesting story is the modification of blood components, whi ch occurred in the G-1 column, and when returned to the patients, may have ameliorated the unbalanced homeostatic network and induced accele ration of healing.