Ever heard of Prosorba column????

[Guest guest]

I read following lines at arthritisinsight.com. Can anyone tell me about this in detail????

************

Another new treatment is a device called the Prosorba column. It mechanically removes inflammatory antibodies from the blood. The blood is first removed from the body through a catheter (a process called apheresis) and then passes through a column coated with a substance called protein A, which binds to the antibodies. The blood is then returned to the patient.

Hassan

[Guest guest]

Yes, I have heard of it. Years ago I asked my Rheumy about it and

was told it is VERY risky. It is essentially like having kidney

dialysis which doesn't sound too bad and since it doesn't involve

meds, it seems like it would be fairly safe. He told me the problem

is that they aren't completely sure of what all is being filtered

out (these are my simplified terms of course) and it could be

potentially very dangerous. From what I understand, it is only used

in very EXTREME cases...

Kathy

> I read following lines at arthritisinsight.com. Can anyone tell me

about

> this in detail????

>

> ************

> Another new treatment is a device called the Prosorba column. It

> mechanically removes inflammatory antibodies from the blood. The

blood is

> first removed from the body through a catheter (a process called

apheresis)

> and then passes through a column coated with a substance called

protein A,

> which binds to the antibodies. The blood is then returned to the

patient.

> Hassan

[Guest guest]

-Thanks for the info. but I did some research on this and read the

FDA trials. It actually isn't like kidney dialysis and isn't all

that risky. Side effects are very mild and non-life threatening.

This treatment from what I understand was misunderstood in the past.

The Prosorba column removes approximately 1 gram of immunoglobulin G

(IgG) and IgG circulating immune complexes (antigen/antibody

complexes). Immune Complexes, in a disease state such as Rheumatoid

Arthritis, are small and not easily recognized by the body's normal

phagocytic removal process and therefore allows their deposition in

tissues causing chronic inflammation and release of autoantibody.

Protein A has an affinity for selectively removing these small immune

complexes that remain bound in the column. There is also some

thought that there is a modulation of some of these immune complexes

in the column to larger sizes that are sent back to the patient

during treatment. These larger immune complexes are more easily

recognized by one's immune system and are destroyed in the normal way.

Protein A is covalently (immobilized) bound to the silica (sand)

matrix in the column and does not go to the patient. If there is any

leeching of protein A is thought to be in nanograms.

The Prosorba column is a non-immunosuppressive non-drug therapy.

The most common side effects to Prosorba therapy are generally flu-

like symptoms that are transient, manageable and may occur 12 -24

hours post treatment. Joint pain/swelling may also occur, usually

after 2 or 3 treatments and is manageable by increasing one's pain

medication. It is thought that when a patient does experience an

exacerbation of joint pain/swelling that he/she may be responding to

the treatment. This is of course different for each patient but the

majority of responders I spoke will agreed that ic can cause RA

symptoms but then you respond dramatically. As you know aspirin can

cause a headache, anti-depressants can cause depression. This is

common. The

joint pain/swelling usually subsides as the patient gets further on

in their treatment regimen.

My mom is on it now and so far so good!

Rheumatoid Arthritis , " Kathy " <gnikk@...> wrote:

>

> Yes, I have heard of it. Years ago I asked my Rheumy about it and

> was told it is VERY risky. It is essentially like having kidney

> dialysis which doesn't sound too bad and since it doesn't involve

> meds, it seems like it would be fairly safe. He told me the

problem

> is that they aren't completely sure of what all is being filtered

> out (these are my simplified terms of course) and it could be

> potentially very dangerous. From what I understand, it is only

used

> in very EXTREME cases...

>

> Kathy

>

>

> > I read following lines at arthritisinsight.com. Can anyone tell

me

> about

> > this in detail????

> >

> > ************

> > Another new treatment is a device called the Prosorba column. It

> > mechanically removes inflammatory antibodies from the blood. The

> blood is

> > first removed from the body through a catheter (a process called

> apheresis)

> > and then passes through a column coated with a substance called

> protein A,

> > which binds to the antibodies. The blood is then returned to the

> patient.

> > Hassan

>