It involves removing blood antibodies
Scientists
have found that an unusual approach of removing antibodies from the blood
stream could reduce chronic infections, an advance that may help humans in the
fight against drug resistant superbugs.
Researchers
from the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University in the U.K.
identified two patients with bronchiectasis who suffered with chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that were resistant to many antibiotics.
Bronchiectasis
is a disease that leads to permanent enlargement of the airways in the lung.
Symptoms
are debilitating for patients, and typically include a chronic cough, shortness
of breath, coughing up blood, and chest pain. Bronchiectasis often affects
patients beyond the age at which lung transplantation is possible.
Like
kidney dialysis
Chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections commonly occur in patients suffering
from bronchiectasis.
“We
used a process known as plasmapheresis that is somewhat like kidney dialysis,”
said Tony De Soyza, Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University.
“The
plasmapheresis involved the removal, treatment, and return of blood plasma from
circulation, and was done five times in a week in order to remove antibody from
the patients,” said De Soyza. “We then replaced antibodies with those from
blood donations. This treatment restored the ability for the patients’ blood to
kill their infecting Pseudomonas,” he said.
Source: THE HINDU-1st April,2017
