[Removal ability of anti-ganglioside antibodies in immunoadsorption using a modified tryptophan-immobilized column].

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patients are often treated by immunoadsorption using a tryptophan-immobilized column (TR) in Japan. To reduce adsorption of fibrinogens, a modified TR (TR-S) was developed. In this study, we compared removal ability of antiganglioside antibodies among TR-S, TR and a phenylalanine-immobilized column (PH). We selected the plasma samples that had high antiganglioside antibody titers from 49 patients with GBS or related disorders. Before and after each immunoadsorption, samples were longitudinally taken from the inlet and outlet of the affinity column. Plasma anti-ganglioside antibody titers were tested by ELISA. TR-S adsorbed anti-ganglioside antibodies less effectively than the TR and PH. Despite of reduction in plasma fibrinogen, no significant bleeding was observed in the patients during each session. We therefore assumed that the TR-S should not be used for GBS and related disorders.