Functionalized hollow fiber membrane cartridge for adsorption of anticofactor/antiphospholipid antibodies: A potential tool for treatment

It is of considerable interest to ascertain whether a hollow fiber cartridg e containing histidine immobilized on polyethylenevinyl alcohol membrane (H is-PEVA) is able to retain specific autoantibodies involved in antiphosphol ipid syndrome. To this end diluted patient pathogenic plasma containing hig h levels of anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I (anti-beta 2GPI) and antiprothrombin antibodies was processed through the functionalized cartridge. The adsorbe d material was then eluted under mild conditions and analyzed; an enrichmen t of the eluted fractions in total IgG and more specifically in IgG, subcla ss was observed, compared with the injected sample. Enzyme-linked immunosor bent assay tests showed a higher specific binding of antiprothrombin and an ti-beta 2GPI in these fractions. This was in accordance with the concomitan t higher anticoagulant activity measured on the same fractions. All in vitr o results clearly demonstrated the ability of the His-PEVA cartridge to pre ferentially adsorb these autoantibodies. Hence the functionalized cartridge represents a potential tool for the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome by selective extracorporeal removal of IgG.