Efficient removal of abnormal immunoglobulin G from plasma of a multiple myeloma patient. Description of a new method for treatment of the hyperviscosity syndrome.

Patients with multiple myeloma who have complications secondary to hyperviscosity are treated by chemotherapy and/or plasmapheresis. Because the response to chemotherapy is usually delayed, plasmapheresis is required for the removal of larger concentrations of plasma proteins to avoid life-threatening complications. Until now there has been no available means to decrease the abnormal plasma proteins in a selective manner. This report describes a new method for the selective removal of immunoglobulin G from the plasma of a patient suffering from IgG-type multiple myeloma. Results obtained from plasmapheresis and selective immunoadsorption of IgG are compared. It appears that the technique described herein may offer a new, more efficient method for the palliative treatment of diseases associated with elevated concentrations of plasma immunoglobulin G.