Patent ID: 8663147

Claim:
A method for treating a patient suffering from Thromboangiitis obliterans comprising: (a) providing a column having coupled thereto a specific ligand for human immunoglobulin, (b) passing plasma taken from a patient suffering from Thromboangiitis obliterans over the column under conditions which effect the binding of said specific ligand to immunoglobulin in the plasma of the patient, (c) removing a significant portion of immunoglobulin from the plasma, and (d) reinfusing the patient's plasma into the patient and thereby treating the patient, wherein said specific ligand is selected from the group consisting of polyclonal anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies, monoclonal anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies, a fragment of such antibodies, recombinant molecules of the antibody idiotype, synthesized peptides, Protein A and Protein G; and wherein said method: (i) reduces the amount of IgG, IgA, and IgM immunoglobulin in said patient's blood by at least 70 percent; (ii) at least 3 of: (A) reduces pain in said patient by at least 4 on a scale of 1-10; (B) increases walking distance by said patient by at least 40%; (C) improves pO2 in the extremities of said patient to normal levels; (D) reduces pCO2 in tissue of said patient to normal levels; and (E) reduces necrotic lesions in the extremities of said patient.