Use of immunoadsorbent columns for antiacetylcholine receptor antibody removal from plasma of myasthenia gravis patients

Abstract

The best apheretic approach to myasthenia gravis is the selective removal of antiacetylcholine receptor antibodies (antiAchR-Ab) from plasma. A new tryptophan-linked polyvinyl-alcohol gel recently reported to be able to adsorb IgG autoantibodies semiselectively from plasma was investigated in vitro. A consistent reduction of antiAchR-Ab ranging from 76% to 100% was observed in all plasma samples tested. Various degrees of reduction of other immunoglobulins were noted. The regeneration of the immunocolumn did not reduce the efficiency in autoantibody removal. Further in vitro and in vivo investigations are needed to confirm the clinical usefulness of this promising apheretic approach to myasthenia gravis.