APHERESIS BASED TREATMENT FOR KIDNEY DISEASE

摘要

A system and method for the treatment of kidney disease, either acute or chronic, in a mammal is disclosed. The method addresses the needs of a patient exhibiting fibrosis formation associated with levels of Gal-3 above normal. Removal of Gal-3 may make conventional treatments of kidney disease more effective, and help stabilize or improve the condition allowing avoidance of progression to end stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis or transplant. Depending on the condition of the patient, the treatment may help stabilize patients to avoid hemodialysis and allow the patient to wait until a transplant may be made available. A suitable patient is treated through apheresis where the patient's blood is withdrawn and ex vivo is treated to remove at least ten percent of Gal-3 from the withdrawn blood. Higher levels, and frequent repetition, may be needed to stabilize and/or improve kidney function in a patient sufficient for ongoing management.

主权项

1. A method for treating a mammal exhibiting kidney disease, comprising:
Identifying a mammal with kidney disease with elevated galectin-3 (“Gal-3”) levels wherein said mammal would benefit from a reduction in fibrosis formation, withdrawing an amount of blood from said mammal and introducing it into an ex vivo treatment system, wherein said treatment system selectively removes Gal-3 from said withdrawn blood by passing said blood through a module provided with a moiety which selectively binds Gal-3, wherein said withdrawn blood, after passing said module, exhibits a Gal-3 level lower than that in said withdrawn blood prior to passing through said module; and thereafter returning said withdrawn blood, to said patient.