Аpplication of plasma proteins cryoheparinoprecipitation method in the treatment of patients with cryoglobulinemia

Abstract

Introduction. The term “cryoglobulinemia” is currently used to identify immunoglobulins in vitro in the blood serum that precipitate at temperatures below 37 °C; in vivo they form immune complexes that can be deposited in small vessels and activate the complement system with the development of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Cryoglobulinemia may develop in various lymphoproliferative, autoimmune and infectious diseases. Aim of study. To develop the technique of plasma proteins cryofraction (selective plasmapheresis with the use of heparin as a stimulant of fibronectin opsonic activity and purified autoplasma to compensate for the removed volume), to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of the developed technique in the treatment of patients with cryoglobulinemia. Materials and methods. 159 patients were treated (120 women and 39 men aged 21 to 83 years). Research results. Heparinocryofraction technique is a highly effective method of extracorporeal blood purification, which allows to selectively remove from the patients’ plasma such pathological components as cryoglobulins (up to 100% of the initial content), adhesive proteins (up to 84% of the initial content), fibronectin and immune complexes (up to 7% of the initial content). It is possible to reduce significantly and reliably the level of cryoglobulins, circulating immune complexes, non-specific markers of inflammation, daily proteinuria, as well as to normalize the initially reduced concentration of complement components and hemoglobin in the blood of patients with cryoglobulinemia before and after the procedure of cryofractionation. Purified by the proposed method autoplasma is a solution of albumin and normal immunoglobulins, which allows to use it for plasma substitution during a course of cryofractionation procedures, on average 7 procedures with an interval of 1–2 days. Conclusion. The technique of cryofractionation using heparin and purified autoplasma can and should be widely used in the complex treatment of patients with cryoglobulinemia. Carrying out 6–-7 sessions of plasma cryofractionation allows to remove cryoglobulins from plasma effectively and selectively. Application of purified autoplasma allows to avoid using of blood preparations in plasmapheresis. The proposed method allows to significantly improve the efficiency and tolerance of medication therapy and increase the duration of disease remission.

Keywords

• cryoglobulinemia
• plasmapheresis
• cryoapheresis
• cryofractionation
• heparinocryofractionation
• plasma proteins