Extracorporeal removal of circulating immune complexes: from non-selective to patient-specific

The classical immune complex-mediated disease, termed serum sickness, developed a short time after the injection of horse anti-tetanus toxin. Antibodies against circulating horse plasma proteins lead to the formation of immune complexes within the blood circulation (CIC). The inflammatory response, including systemic complement activation and vasculitis, seriously affected the function of all organs, including the most susceptible kidney. Meanwhile CIC have been detected in almost every systemic disease, including autoimmune disorders and also cancer and infections. This brief review will focus on the rationale and the equipment for extracorporeal elimination of CIC.