ITP Treatments

Prosorba® Column Therapy

Protein A Column Immunoadsorbtion

Prosorba Column Therapy is a procedure designed to remove some of the anti-platelet antibodies from your blood.

During this procedure your blood plasma is passed through a special column attached to a cell separator. A portion of your blood is removed via a tube attached to your arm. The blood is divided into platelets, red blood cells and plasma. The plasma is then passed through the Prosorba Column, which contains Protein A that selectively binds itself to the harmful antibodies in the plasma. After the plasma is filtered, it is joined with the platelets and red blood cells, heated, and then pumped back into your body.

The protocol for this procedure is three times a week for two weeks. Six treatments are recommended although responses, if they occur, are often noted after 2 or 3 treatments. Note that if you are receiving IVIg to keep your platelets up, the IVIg is also filtered out through the column.

Protein A Immunoadsorption or Prosorba Column Therapy or Plasmapheresis are terms that people use to describe this procedure. However, Plasmapheresis is different from Prosorba Column Therapy. Plasmapheresis is used to treat TTP, not ITP. In Plasmapheresis for TTP, the plasma is replaced with fresh frozen plasma from a donor. For ITP, the patient's own plasma is returned after it is passed through the Prosorba Column.

Studies reported a 30% response rate.

Side Effects

These include fever, chills, generalized body pain, nausea, vomiting and hives - all typical of any apheresis-based procedure. Serious skin rashes have been noted in some patients. Symptoms can be quite severe in some patients.

Related Web Sites

• http://www.freseniushc.com/product/itp.htm
  (Manufacturer's web site)