Abstract
One of the important aim of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by apheresis is to attenuate joints pain. Our previous studies elucidated that EDA (+) fibronectin (EDA (+) FN) level in RA patients plasma was higher than that of other patients, it had respect to joints pain, and it might be a good indicator of joint pain. Our strategy is that EDA (+) FN is drawn out from tissues to blood by heparin injection, and then a new adsorbent removes selectively EDA (+) FN from plasma. We developed a new adsorbent of EDA (+) FN, a heparinized cellulose (OHC-10). In in vitro study, the reduction rate of EDA (+) FN and total FN was 69% and 14%, respectively. The reduction rate of total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM, and fibrinogen was less than 5%. OHC-10 could remove selectively the EDA (+) FN. The reduction rate of EDA (+) FN did not depend on temperature and its concentration. On the other hand, the reduction rate of AT III was high as well as EDA (+) FN, that was consequent on the high affinity of AT III with heparin. However in in vivo study using dogs, hemostasis just after removal of intravenous catheter was not difficult, and after 24 hours AT III level recovered to almost same level as that of pre-experiment. These data confirm that OHC-10 will be able to remove selectively and efficiently EDA (+) FN, and must be a beneficial device.
