Extracorporeal immunoadsorption: initial experience in human systemic lupus erythematosus.

Extracorporeal immunoadsorption and filtration was used in treatment of a 29-year-old woman with severe lupus nephritis. For the previous 35 days single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) antibody and immune-complex levels had been continuously raised with only partial improvement on prednisone therapy. Levels of immune complexes and ssDNA antibodies were substantially reduced by extracorporeal plasma filtration and adsorption of DNA collodion charcoal. There were no major clinical complications. After perfusion, the reduction of ssDNA binding and immune complexes in serum was sustained, serum C'3 became normal, and serum creatinine and proteinuria improved. 28 days after perfusion, subendothelial glomerular deposits were much reduced compared with those in a pre-perfusion biopsy specimen. Selective immunoadsorption is a promising new approach to persistent lupus nephritis refractory to drug therapy alone.