An extracorporeal system for enhancing an immune response in a mammal to facilitate the elimination of a chronic pathology. The system includes an absorbent matrix capable of removing an immune system inhibitors such as soluble TNF receptor from the circulation of the mammal, thus, enabling a more vigorous immune response to the pathogenic agent. The removal of immune system inhibitors is accomplished by contacting biological fluids of a mammal with one or more binding partner(s) such as TNF-α muteins capable of binding to and, thus, depleting the targeted immune system inhibitor(s) from the biological fluids. The absorbent matrix may comprise an inert, biocompatible substrate joined covalently to a binding partner, such as a TNF-α mutein, capable of specifically binding to a targeted immune system inhibitor such as soluble TNF receptor.
