This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ray, P. K. Articles by Bassett, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ray, P. K. Articles by Bassett, J. G.

Ability of Nonviable Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I To Bind Ionized Calcium in Vitro and ex Vivo in an Extracorporeal Perfusion System¹

Department of Surgery, Alma Dea Morani Laboratory of Surgical Immunobiology, The Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129

During immunoadsorption of plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and/or its complexes, using nonviable Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SA) as an immunoadsorbent, we observed a consistent drop in plasma calcium during every immunoadsorption procedure. The percentage of decrease in plasma calcium was directly dependent on the amount of SA adsorbent present. Although SA can bind both IgG and calcium, the degree of binding of IgG was greater than that of calcium. Calcium could not be detected in the IgG fraction of the plasma. SA, however, could bind an appreciable amount of ionized calcium.

Extracorporeal perfusion of plasma over SA greatly decreased plasma calcium in a hypercalcemic patient, indicating the feasibility of this method in such patients. Questions concerning the significance of lowering calcium levels as a concomitant of other effects observed in cancer patients undergoing immunoadsorption therapy using SA evolve from the above and become a new focus for attention.

¹ The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial help received from the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, the R. J. Reynolds Industries, Inc., and the W. W. Smith Charitable Trust to carry out this investigation.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Surgery and Microbiology, Alma Dea Morani Laboratory of Surgical Immunobiology, The Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hospital, 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19129.

Received 7/ 6/81. Accepted 9/ 9/81.