Selective C-Reactive Protein-Apheresis in Patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Immunology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key marker of inflammation and a mediator of tissue damage in diseases like atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
• Eliminating CRP from plasma presents a potential therapeutic strategy for managing inflammatory conditions.
• Previous case reports indicated the feasibility of selective CRP apheresis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To further elucidate the method of selective CRP apheresis.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CRP apheresis in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
• To assess the impact of CRP apheresis on plasma CRP concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen patients with STEMI underwent two sequential CRP apheresis treatments using the PentraSorb CRP adsorber.
• Treatments were initiated 24 ± 12 hours after STEMI and successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
• CRP levels were measured before and after each treatment, and for 96 hours post-symptom onset.

Main Results:

• CRP apheresis resulted in an average CRP depletion of 53.4% ± 11.9%.
• Mean CRP concentration decreased from 25.1 ± 11.1 mg/L after the first treatment and 30.2 ± 21.4 mg/L after the second.
• No severe apheresis-associated side effects were observed; patients tolerated the procedure well.

Conclusions:

• Selective CRP apheresis is a feasible and safe method for significantly reducing plasma CRP concentrations in humans.
• The procedure demonstrated effective CRP depletion in patients following STEMI.
• This technique holds promise as a widely applicable therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases.