Specific removal of transthyretin from plasma of patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: optimization of an immunoadsorption procedure

Int J Artif Organs. 1992 Apr;15(4):249-55.

Abstract

Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy is characterized by the presence in patients plasma of a genetic variant of transthyretin. No specific treatment has been found and extracorporeal immunoadsorption on immobilized anti-transthyretin antibodies appears as a potentially attractive procedure. Parameters involved in specific immunoadsorption of transthyretin were studied and optimized. Several monoclonal anti-TTR antibodies were compared as affinity ligands and one of them was found to be suitable for such purposes. Optimum quantities of antibodies to be immobilized on the gel were determined. Three desorption agents were tested for regenerating immunoadsorbents and best results were obtained with basic variation of pH, allowing total desorption of TTR and possibility of multiple use without loss of adsorption capacity. Simulation of an immunoadsorption procedure in well-defined conditions showed efficiency and specificity of adsorption to remove TTR and the system thus should be subjected to clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / blood
  • Amyloidosis / genetics*
  • Amyloidosis / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosorbent Techniques*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / blood
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / genetics*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / therapy
  • Plasma
  • Prealbumin*

Substances

  • Prealbumin