Extracorporeal immunoadsorption of myeloma IgG and autoimmune antibodies: a clinically feasible modality of treatment.

Using heat-killed, formalin-stabilized Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I suspension, it was possible to remove myeloma IgG and autoimmune anti-red blood cell antibodies from two patients' plasma following an extracorporeal procedure. The arterial anticoagulated blood was processed through a cell separator machine. The separated plasma was pumped through a bacterial filter containing S. aureus suspension. The adsorbed plasma was then reunited with the blood cells and returned to the patient through the vein. S. aureus Cowan I could selectively remove the myeloma IgG and autoimmune anti-red cell antibodies from the patients' plasma prolonging the lives of these two terminal patients. The immunoadsorption procedure appears to be a safe, practical and quick method for the removal of pathological IgG from the patients' plasma.