Cartridge and method for increasing myocardial function

1. A method of treating a subject having or at risk of developing chronic heart failure, the method comprising:

(a) extracorporeally sequestering activated leukocytes and/or activated platelets present in a body fluid of the subject in a cartridge comprising

(i) a rigid housing defining an inner volume (IV), a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, wherein the inner volume is in fluid flow communication with the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port, and

(ii) a solid support disposed within the housing and defining a fluid contacting surface with a surface area (SA) capable of sequestering activated leukocytes and/or activated platelets, if present in a body fluid entering the housing via the fluid inlet port, wherein the SA/IV ratio of the cartridge is greater than 80 cm −1 or is in the range from 25 cm −1 to 2,000 cm −1 , and the body fluid is introduced into the housing via the fluid inlet port under conditions that permit sequestration of the activated leukocytes and/or activated platelets on the fluid contacting surface of the solid support; and

(b) treating the leukocytes and/or platelets sequestered in step (a) with a calcium chelating agent to inhibit release of a pro-inflammatory substance or to deactivate the leukocytes and/or platelets; and

(c) returning the leukocytes and/or platelets treated with the calcium chelating agent in step (b) to the subject, thereby to treat or prevent chronic heart failure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SA/IV ratio of the cartridge provided in step (a) is greater than 80 cm −1 .

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SA/IV ratio of the cartridge provided in step (a) is greater than 150 cm −1 .

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the solid support is disposed within the housing at a packing density in the range from 20% to 65%.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SA of the cartridge provided in step (a) is in the range of from 0.1 m 2 to 5.0 m 2 .

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is in the range of from 15 cm 3 to 120 cm 3 .

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising permitting the body fluid to exit the cartridge via the fluid outlet port at a flow rate in the range of 10 cm 3 /minute to 8,000 cm 3 /minute.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calcium chelating agent is citrate.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has myocardial dysfunction secondary to inflammatory cell penetration of heart tissue.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has received a heart transplant.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating involves improving a myocardial function in the subject relative to the myocardial function prior to treating, wherein the myocardial function is selected from the group consisting of left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, left ventricular stroke volume, aortic pressure, left ventricular pressure, peak rate of change of left ventricular pressure during isovolumic contraction and relaxation, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, myocardial oxygen consumption, and coronary flow reserve.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the increased myocardial function is maintained for at least 6 hours after termination of the treating in step (b).

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the increased myocardial function is maintained for at least 24 hours after termination of the treating in step (b).

14. A method for treating a subject having or at risk of developing an inflammatory condition associated with chronic heart failure, the method comprising:

(a) providing a cartridge comprising

(i) a rigid housing defining an inner volume (IV), a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, wherein the inner volume is in fluid flow communication with the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port; and

(ii) a solid support disposed within the housing and defining a fluid contacting surface with a surface area (SA) capable of sequestering an activated leukocyte and/or an activated platelet, if present in a body fluid entering the housing via the fluid inlet port, wherein the SA/IV ratio is greater than 80 cm −1 or is in the range from 25 cm −1 to 2,000 cm −1 ;

(b) introducing a body fluid from the subject into the housing via the fluid inlet port under conditions that permit sequestration of an activated leukocyte and/or an activated platelet on the fluid contacting surface of the solid support; and

(c) treating the leukocyte and/or platelet sequestered in step (b) with a calcium chelating agent; and

(d) returning the leukocyte and/or platelet treated with the calcium chelating agent in step (c) to the subject, thereby to reduce the risk of the subject developing inflammation associated with chronic heart failure or to alleviate inflammation associated with chronic heart failure in the subject.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the SA/IV ratio of the cartridge provided in step (a) is greater than 150 cm −1 .

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the SA/IV ratio is in the range of from 150 cm −1 to 1,500 cm −1 .

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a myocardial function of the subject prior to step (a).

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a myocardial function of the subject after step (b).

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activated leukocytes and/or activated platelets bind to a fluid contacting surface of the solid support.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the calcium chelating agent is citrate.