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Immunoadsorption as a new therapeutic principle for treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy

S.B. Felix*,1, A. Staudt1 and G. Baumann2

a Department of Internal Medicine B, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt, Universität, Greifswald, Germany
b Department of Internal Medicine I, Charité University Hospital, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany

* Correspondence: Stephan B. Felix, MD, Klinik für Innere Medizin B, Medizinische Fakultät, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Loefflerstar. 23a, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany.

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a myocardial disease characterized by progressive depression of myocardial contractile function, and by ventricular dilatation. Abnormalities of the cellular and humoral immune system are present in a subset of patients with myocarditis and DCM. A number of various cardiac autoantibodies against cardiac cellular proteins have been identified in patients with myocarditis and DCM. Recent clinical studies showed that removal of antibodies by immunoadsorption improves cardiac function of patients with DCM indicating that activation of the humoral immune system may play a functional role in DCM.

Key Words: Dilated cardiomyopathy • humoral immune system • antibodies • immunoadsorption


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