Three groups of patients suffering from acute attacks or progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) are under investigation. First results revealed remarkable clinical improvements of patients with acute attacks in the groups treated by therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and immunoadsorption (IA). Only slight or no improvements were seen in the patients of the control group treated only with steroids. Plasma protein levels (IgG, IgM, IgA, fibrinogen) were considerably reduced in patients of the TPE group after each treatment procedure as expected. The same holds true concerning the total hemolytic capacities (THC) of the complement of the classic (CP) and the alternative (AP) pathway. On the other hand in the IA group only slight decreases of plasma proteins (about 20%) were observed, but the behaviour of THC's were quite similar than those seen in the patients of the TPE group. The THC decreases in both groups can be explained by removal of all complement factors (TPE group) or by the adsorption of single factors (IA group) of both complement pathways according to earlier in vitro investigations. The THC decreases in patients of both groups suffering from acute MS attacks could mean an "antiinflammatory" effect and could--at least partially--contribute to the clinical improvements of these patients.

Results of in vitro and ex vivo experiments with a newly developed LDL-binding material are presented. This material consists of macroporous bead cellulose which is capable to bind selectively LDL. LDL-cholesterol is considerably decreased after contacts of plasma or serum samples with this bead cellulose. On the other hand high density lipoproteins (HDL) and other plasma components (proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and metabolic substances) remained high or unchanged. Triglycerides (TG)--transported by very low density lipoproteins--are also bound up to a certain degree. 1 g of the adsorbent wet mass binds at least 20 mg cholesterol. The capacity suffices to decrease two- to threefold increased cholesterol and LDL plasma levels to the low normal range following passage of the sevenfold plasma volume' through two the three LDL adsorbent columns (results of perfusion experiments). In vitro and dog experiments revealed only slight drops of the hemolytic capacities of the classic complement pathway and moderate decreases of the alternative one. But no detectable side effects were noticed in the dog experiments.

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