Extracorporeal SPecific IgE Removal From the Plasma of Allergic Asthma Patients (ESPIRA-study)
Extracorporeal SPecific IgE Removal From the Plasma of Allergic Asthma Patients (ESPIRA-study)
In this study patients suffering from Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated asthma are treated with
 a method, called immune apheresis, that removes IgE from blood. In order to achieve this
 blood is taken continuously from the patient and then separated into plasma and blood cells
 by centrifuge. The plasma passes the new IgE adsorber where the IgE is specifically bound.
 The "cleaned" plasma re-joined with the blood cells is given back to the patient. In total
 each patient randomized to the apheresis group will undergo 3 treatments per week (i.e. 1
 cycle) every 4 weeks over a time period of 3 months, that means 9 apheresis treatments in 3
 cycles in total. Study hypothesis is that the new IgE adsorber is capable of reducing IgE in
 plasma/serum by at least 50% measured before the first treatment in the first cycle and after
 the last treatment in the last treatment cycle. The new adsorber can be safely used in
 patients. A group of patients with conventional drug treatment and no apheresis treatment
 serves as control.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Signed Informed Consent

 -  Clinically relevant allergy to respiratory allergens confirmed by patient's history,
 skin-prick testing, IgE serology

 -  Allergic asthma (diagnosed by lung specialist)

 -  IgE concentration in blood at least 300 kilo Units (kU)/L

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Participation in another trial within 30 days prior to enrolment

 -  Gravidity (pregnancy test prior to each treatment cycle)

 -  Intake of omalizumab

 -  Hepatitis or HIV or malignant disease

 -  Specific immunotherapy in the last 6 months

 -  Non-allergic asthma

 -  Auto-immune diseases

 -  Hypocalcaemia

 -  Intake of ACE-inhibitors (discontinuation according to half-time before treatment
 possible)

 -  Uncontrolled bleeding and coagulation disorders

 -  Severe cardiovascular disease

 -  Severe cardiac arrhythmias

 -  Severe systemic infection

 -  Unability to tolerate therapeutic apheresis procedures (hypersensitivity associated
 with previous apheresis sessions)

 -  Inadequate peripheral venous access

 -  Condition in which acute fluid shifts may cause congestive heart failure

 -  Established or suspected intra-cranial disease where fluid imbalance or pressure
 changes could exacerbate the disease

 -  Impaired renal function

 -  Clinically significant hypotension or borderline hypotension where a further drop in
 blood pressure could be harmful