Aetna considers extracorporeal immunoadsorption (ECI) medically necessary for any of the following indications:

1. Hemolytic uremic syndrome, with clinical evidence of serious bleeding with platelet count below 50,000 or the potential for serious bleeding with platelet count below 20,000; or
2. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, with clinical evidence of serious bleeding with platelet count below 50,000 or the potential for serious bleeding with platelet count below 20,000; or
3. Last resort treatment of life-threatening systemic lupus erythematosus when conventional therapy has failed to prevent clinical deterioration; or
4. Moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, for reduction of signs and symptoms in members who have failed other treatments (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate); or
5. Myasthenic crisis when conventional therapy (e.g., intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmas exchange) has failed; or
6. Pemphigus vulgaris that is resistant to standard therapy, including dapsone, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants (e.g., azathioprine or cyclosporine).

Aetna considers ECI experimental and investigational for all other indications (e.g., dermatomyositis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita) because its effectiveness for indications other than the ones listed above has not been established.

See also CPB 0206 - Parenteral Immunoglobulins, CPB 0285 - Plasmapheresis/Plasma Exchange/Therapeutic Apheresis, CPB 0315 - Enbrel (Etanercept), CPB 0341 - Remicade (Infliximab), and CPB 0595 - Kineret (Anakinra).

Extra-corporeal immunoadsorption (ECI), also referred to as protein immunoadsorption therapy or by the trade name Prosorba Column (Cypress Bioscience), consists of a highly purified protein A (isolated from staphylococcus aureus) that is bonded to a silica matrix.  Plasma is collected from the patient in a pheresis procedure and then passed over the column.  Circulating immune complexes and IgG bind to the protein A and are thus selectively removed from plasma.  The plasma can then be returned to the patient, thus eliminating the need for a plasma exchange.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is characterized by rapid platelet destruction and typically appears in young women and also in male patients who are sero-positive for HIV infection.  It is usually a relatively benign disorder in its chronic form and there is no indication to treat when the platelet count is above 50,000.  In cases involving more serious bleeding or with platelet counts less than 20,000, ECI has successfully reversed the immune thrombocytopenia by removal and modulation of platelet-specific IgG and circulating immune complexes.

Extra-corporeal immunoadsorption has also been used in the treatment of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and progressive renal failure.  It may occur in patients with malignancies treated with mitomycin C and cisplatin.  This syndrome is known to be associated with circulating immune complexes that may play a role in its pathogenesis.  A number of patients treated with protein A columns have achieved a definite increase in platelet count, decrease of hemolysis, and stabilization of renal function.

More recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved extra-corporeal immunoadsorption for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  It is indicated for use in therapeutic reduction of signs and symptoms of moderate-to-severe RA in adult patients with long-standing disease who have failed or are intolerant of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.  The FDA stressed that the machine was for use in a small proportion of patients, those with moderate-to-severe symptoms who have failed other treatments; it is not first-line therapy.  The machine offers a 30 % chance of improving the swelling and pain that cripples patient's joints.

For HUS and ITP, treatment is typically given 6 times over the course of 2 to 3 weeks.  For RA, patients are typically treated once-weekly for 12 weeks.

Ruocco et al (2005) stated that pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune bullous dermatosis with a high mortality rate if untreated.  The disease results from autoimmunity to normal components of keratinocyte cell membrane (desmogleins 3 and 1) belonging to the cadherin super-gene family.  Standard treatment for PV entails combination of glucocorticoids (high dosage) and immunosuppressants.  In patients with severe, life-threatening, or refractory PV, stronger therapies should be considered (e.g., "pulse-therapy" with discontinuous intravenous infusion of mega doses of immunosuppressants over a short-time, plasmapheresis, and ECI of pathogenic autoantibodies using the extracellular domain of the PV main antigen (desmoglein 3) produced by baculovirus or, more recently, a tryptophan-linked polyvinyl alcohol adsorber.

Braun et al (2000) noted that reduction of pathological autoantibodies (Abs) as well as circulating immune complexes (IC) can be beneficial in the treatment of autoimmune disease.  Plasmapheresis has been shown to reduce Abs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but its effect on health outcome was not better compared with conventional immunosuppression in the past.  These investigators evaluated immunoadsorption (IAS) as rescue therapy in patients suffering from SLE.  A total of 8 patients with severe, therapy-resistant SLE underwent immunoadsorption onto protein A sepharose without concomitant immunosuppressants.  Remission of the disease was achieved in 7 patients.  Therapy had to be stopped in 1 patient because of side-effects.  The best results were obtained when IAS was performed daily, without supplementary intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.  Oral cyclophosphamide for 3 to 6 months during follow-up was used to suppress relapse.  Circulating IC and Abs were effectively eliminated regardless of their IgG subclass.  The authors concluded that IAS onto protein A might be used as an extra-corporeal treatment option in SLE when other therapies are ineffective.

Stummvoll et al (2009) stated that IAS with various methods is used as a rescue therapy in severely ill SLE patients who are refractory to conventional therapeutic procedures.  The method aims at the rapid and extensive removal of pathogenic IC and Abs.  Long-term observational studies suggested efficacy and have not seen an increase in the risk of infections (as were seen in other extracorporeal procedures).  However, randomized controlled trials (RCT) are lacking.  Recently, biologicals aiming at tumor necrosis factor-blockade or B-cell depletion have been used to treat severe SLE.  They are easier to apply since they do not necessitate additional hardware or specially trained staff.  While there is emerging evidence for efficacy from uncontrolled observations, no RCT could so far demonstrate benefit in SLE.  Under these circumstances, IAS still has a role in treating severe SLE, when other therapies are ineffective or are contraindicated (as in pregnancy).

Biesenbach et al (2009) stated that pathogenic Abs are a hallmark of SLE and their rapid removal is beneficial in active SLE.  Immunoadsorption is effective in removing serum levels of all classes of immunoglobulin (Ig), IC and anti-dsDNA Abs and appears superior to plasmapheresis with respect to side effects.  Immunoadsorption can be performed with different columns, which use different ligands to bind their target.  In particular, high affinity columns are in the focus of interest.  Their ligands are either sheep IgG directed against human Ig (Ig-column, Ig-Therasorb((R))), or staphylococcal Protein A (ProtA-column, Immunosorba((R))), or the synthetic peptide Gam146 (GAM-column, Globaffin((R))).  In the authors' experience, Ig-columns have been effective in treating active renal SLE.  However, no analysis has so far been published on which column type should be preferred in treating SLE patients.  Among the authors' SLE patients maintained on prolonged IAS therapy, those with stable renal SLE and low-to-moderate disease activity who were successfully treated by using Ig-columns were identified.  Six of these patients were switched to ProtA-columns, keeping the rest of the protocol and the medication constant.  In addition, 2 patients were switched from Ig- to GAM-columns.  All types of columns significantly lowered the serum levels of IgG, IgM, and anti-dsDNA Abs.  Disease activity was constantly low before and after the switch, as were parameters of renal function.  In addition, patients with highly active disease were effectively treated when ProtA- (n = 6) or GAM-columns (n = 1) were used as first-line extracorporeal treatment.  The authors concluded that these findings demonstrated that all columns are adequately effective in controlling key parameters of SLE.  Thus, it is not the type of the ligand, but only the outcome, i.e., the successful removal of Ig, IC, and auto-Abs that is needed for controlling SLE activity.

Gürcan and Ahmed (2011) noted that long-term remission in patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is difficult to achieve.  Patients who are resistant or develop side effects to conventional immuno-suppressive therapy (CIST) have been treated with several other agents.  These investigators focused on the clinical outcome in patients treated with a single drug or combination, and determined if long-term remission can be induced.  Data on 71 patients were analyzed.  There are no controlled trials.  The regimens used included colchicine, cyclosporine, daclizumab, dapsone, intravenous immunoglobulin, mesalazine, mycophenolic acid, rituximab, extra-corporeal photochemotherapy, and plasmapheresis.  The use of CIST, especially in widespread and recalcitrant patients, usually does not produce a prolonged clinical remission and can have hazardous side effects.  The authors stated that intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab and immunoadsorption have been successfully used in some, but the benefits from their use may require additional studies.

Lagoumintzis and colleagues (2010) noted that current medications for myasthenia gravis (MG) are non-specific and include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressants, plasma exchange (PE), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration and thymectomy.  Treatments that selectively target the anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) auto-Abs may prove to be more effective and free of side-effects.  These investigators reviewed 2 approaches aimed at the development of antigen-specific therapies for MG.  The first is specific apheresis of Abs from patients' sera using immobilized recombinant AChR domains as immunoadsorbents.  These researchers had shown that the combined recombinant extracellular domains of all human AChR subunits are capable of specifically immunoadsorbing the majority of pathogenic auto-Abs from several MG sera.  The second therapeutic approach is the development of non-pathogenic anti-AChR monoclonal Abs that could potentially be used as protective agents by blocking the binding of patients' auto-Abs to the AChR.

Blaha et al (2011) described their experience with PE and IAS in patients with MG.  The group of 27 patients consists of 21 patients treated with PE and 6 patients who received IAS.  Plasma exchange led to stabilization in 20 patients.  In patients treated with IAS, therapy could be discontinued in 2 patients after 13 months of therapy, and the other 4 patients were stabilized without myasthenic crises after 6 to 9 years of therapy.  Extra-corporeal elimination therapy through PE or IAS is effective and sometimes life-saving and is safe in the hands of an experienced team (6 % complication rate).

Kohler et al (2011) noted that myasthenic crisis is the most serious life-threatening event in patients with MG, affecting up to 27 % within the first 2 years following onset of disease.  Extra-corporeal removal of circulating Abs against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChRAb) by methods of therapeutic apheresis, such as PE and IAS had been demonstrated as effective treatment especially in acute situations of myasthenic crisis.  These investigators presented the results of a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial, investigating 19 patients with myasthenic crisis, who were randomized to receive either PE (n = 10) or IAS (n = 9) in addition to combined drug treatment.  Patients received 3 to 5 (mean of 3.5 for PE, and 3.4 for IAS) treatments over a period of 7 days with a pre-defined treatment volume of 1.5 L plasma (i.e., 20 to 25 ml/kg plasma representing 0.5 to 0.6 patients' plasma volumes).  Clinical courses were monitored using disease specific clinical scores.  After initiation of IAS or PE, the mean value of myasthenia scores decreased equally until day 14 of the post-treatment phase.  Patients from both treatment groups improved to a stable clinical status of Oosterhuis Classes 1 and 2.  Substantial reduction of AChRAb was documented after each session of PE or IAS.  During the treatment period, 16 adverse effects (7 serious adverse events, SAE) in the PE and 10 (1 SAE) in the IAS group were observed.  The authors concluded that IAS proved to be equally effective compared with PE treatment in patients with myasthenic crisis; 3 to 5 treatment sessions using low plasma volume dosage of 20 to 25 ml/kg were adequate to improve clinically relevant symptoms significantly in most patients.