Immunoadsorption versus therapeutic plasma exchange. Will fibrinogen make the difference?

Efficacy of extracorporeal plasma therapy for adult native kidney patients with Primary FSGS: a Systematic review

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess efficacy of extracorporeal plasma therapy (EPT), including plasmapheresis (PE), immunoadsorption (IA), low-density lipoprotein apheresis (LDL-A), and lymphocytapheresis (LCAP) for adult native kidney patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Databases through August 2022. Studies that reported outcomes of EPT in adult native kidneys with primary FSGS were enrolled.

RESULTS

18 studies with 104 therapy-resistant or refractory primary native FSGS patients were identified. Overall EPT response rate was 56%, with long-term benefit of 46%. Of the 101 non-hemodialysis (HD) patients, 54% achieved remission, with 30% complete remission (CR) and 23% partial remission (PR). Of 31 patients with PE, response rate was 65%; CR and PR rates were 27% and 37% in 30 non-HD patients. Of 61 patients with LDL-A, the response rate was 54%; CR and PR rates were 41% and 3% in 29 non-HD patients. Of 10 patients with IA, response rate was 40%. Of 2 patients with LCAP, 1 achieved CR, and one developed renal failure. All 3 HD patients showed increase in urine output and gradual decrease in urine protein excretion following PE (n = 1) or LDL-A (n = 2). 2 of 3 HD patients ultimately discontinued dialysis.

CONCLUSION

EPT with immunosuppressive therapy showed benefit in some patients with refractory primary FSGS, and PE appeared to have a higher response rate.

Efficacy of intravenous combined immunosuppression with plasmapheresis in adult patients with refractory primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) treatment is based on immunosuppressive therapies. Since refractory disease is common, alternative methods are emerging. One of these methods is plasmapheresis with intravenous cyclosporine and corticosteroids, and it could be an option in post-transplant recurrent FSGS. We retrospectively investigated the efficacy of this combined treatment in adult patients with refractory primary FSGS.

METHODS

Seven refractory primary FSGS patients were included. Demographics, estimated glomerular filtration rates, serum albumin levels, urine protein/creatinine ratios, and previous treatments were evaluated. Also, complications and remission rates were assessed.

RESULTS

Median patient age was 23 years. Median duration of diagnosis was 2 years. Median number of plasmapheresis sessions was 14. Five of seven patients (71.4%, one complete, four partial remissions) were responders after the protocol. Changes in serum albumin levels and proteinuria after protocol were statistically significant (P = 0.018 and P = 0.018, respectively). eGFR levels did not change statistically (P = 0.753). Median follow-up duration after the treatment was 17 months. However, two patients experienced disease relapse (28.5%). End-stage kidney disease was developed in two patients. Sustained remission rate was 42.8% during follow-up (One complete and two partial remissions). Also, 42.8% of patients experienced catheter infections. Catheter-associated thrombosis that required surgery was observed in a patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasmapheresis combined with intravenous cyclosporine and corticosteroids could be an option in refractory primary FSGS. High response rates after this protocol were encouraging. However, the relapsing disease was observed after the cessation of apheresis. Also, complications of the protocol could limit the applicability.

Immune‐mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a Jehovah’s Witness – Effectiveness of incorporating extracorporeal immunoadsorption to caplacizumab, steroids and rituximab

We report the case of a Jehovah's Witness adolescent patient with immune‐mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura after SARS‐Cov2 infection successfully treated without therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) using caplacizumab, corticosteroids, rituximab, and extracorporeal immunoadsorption (EIA). Further patients for whom TPE is not an option might benefit from this approach.

Our experience in this case suggests that caplacizumab together with corticosteroids, rituximab, and EIA may be an effective treatment option for further patients with i‐TTP who are unable to undergo TPE. EIA is as a treatment in place of TPE contributing to a very rapid removal of autoantibodies against ADAMTS‐13.

Therapeutic Immunoadsorption and Conventional Plasma Exchange in ABO-incompatible Renal Transplant: An Exculpatory Evidence

Aim

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of immunoadsorption (IA) with conventional therapeutic plasma-exchange (cTPE) in ABO-incompatible (ABOi) renal transplant.

Methods

Data of patients from July 2015 to June 2017 (category-I, number of patients (N) = 11; IA±cTPE) on the average length of stay (ALOS), number of cTPE/IA, antibody-titers (AT), creatinine, patient and graft survival at one year were compared retrospectively with patients in period from February 2012 to June 2015 (category-II, N = 29; cTPE only). AT of patients not decreasing to less than one fold after two cTPE were shifted for IA. For patients undergoing IA, real-time AT was done and IA stopped after target titer (TT <1:8) was achieved. Post-transplant cTPE was done if, titers rebounded to ≥1:8. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was given after every cTPE/IA. Cost comparisons were made.

Results

In category-I, seven patients (63.63%) were shifted to IA from cTPE. The mean cTPE procedures in category I and II are 3.5 ± 2.4 and 4.8 ± 2.5, respectively (p = 0.206). The mean IA procedures in category-I are 1.6 ± 0.5. The number of patients requiring post-operative TPE was less in category-I than category-II, i.e., N = 5, 45.5% vs N = 20, 69%, respectively (p = 0.171). The expense of IA in category-I vs cTPE in category-II was statistically not significant (p = 0.422) but had significant lesser ALOS (p = 0.044). Expenses, when a patient undergoes both cTPE and IA (category-I), are significantly higher to category-II (p = 0.003). The two groups were comparable in AT, creatinine value, graft and patient survival rates at one year.

Conclusion

Contrary to the general judgment of IA being expensive than cTPE, this study shows equivalent expenditures with comparable therapeutic outcomes.

Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disorders in Pregnancy

Autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD), including pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and pemphigoid gestationis, pose significant therapeutic challenges, especially in pregnant and post-partum breastfeeding patients or those planning to conceive. Data on the safety and efficacy of therapeutic interventions during the perinatal period are lacking because randomized controlled trials are typically not performed in this setting. However, many of the treatments for AIBD are also used in other diseases, so data can be extrapolated from studies or case reports in these other patient populations. It appears that many of the treatments for AIBD can adversely affect the fetus or neonate, and alterations in immune status caused by pregnancy-associated hormonal changes can negatively impact disease control. This article summarizes and weighs the risks and benefits of the various agents used to treat AIBD during pregnancy. We also present the available information on lactation as well as effects on male fertility.

Safety Aspects of Immunoadsorption in IgG Removal Using a Single-Use, Multiple-pass Protein A Immunoadsorber (LIGASORB): Clinical Investigation in Healthy Volunteers

Therapeutic apheresis and immunoadsorption are used to deplete efficiently pathogenic autoantibodies in crises in several acute autoimmune driven diseases. This prospective, non-comparative cohort study was conducted at a single study center under standardized conditions in 10 healthy volunteers. Efficient immunoglobulin G (IgG) removal (-86% versus baseline) was achieved after 3 apheresis treatments on 3 consecutive days. The treatments were well tolerated. Safety laboratory parameters did not show unexpected or pathological changes. The effects were transient, with most parameters exhibiting complete recovery between treatments. Minimal complement activation and moderate transient fibrinogen depletion were observed. Immunoadsorption with LIGASORB® provides a safe and effective treatment alternative to TPE in acute episodes of peripheral neurological diseases mediated by pathogenic IgG autoantibodies.

Removal of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) factor suPAR using CytoSorb

Treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and its recurrence after kidney transplantation associated with rapid deterioration of kidney function remains to be challenging despite advances in immunosuppressive therapy. The presence of circulating factors has been postulated to be a pivotal player in the pathogenesis of FSGS, although suPAR and CLCF-1 have been identified as the most promising causative factors. The potential therapeutic effect of suPAR elimination in an FSGS patient using CytoSorb, a hemoadsorption device that gained attention in the cytokine elimination in septic patients, was studied. Efficiency of total plasma exchange to remove suPAR was determined. CytoSorb hemoadsorption caused a 27.33% reduction of the suPAR level in a single treatment, whereas total plasma exchange showed a suPAR level reduction of 25.12% (n = 3; 95% confidence interval, 0.2777-0.8090; P < 0.01), which may indicate therapeutic potential in the treatment of primary FSGS and its recurrence in a kidney transplant.