A new approach to the management of familial hypercholesterolaemia: Removal of plasma-cholesterol based on the principle of affinity chromatography.
Reduction of plasma-cholesterol by the removal of low-density lipoproteins (L.D.L.) in an extracorporeal system is described as a possible approach in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia. L.D.L. were removed from the blood by their interaction with heparin linked to agarose beads in the presence of calcium ions. Plasma-L.D.L. was markedly decreased in two patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. The technique is specific for the removal of L.D.L., as the concentration of high-density lipoproteins was not affected. The treatment was well tolerated by all three subjects (i.e., two hypercholesterolaemic patients and a normal volunteer), and there were no undesirable effects. Several haematological parameters, clinical-chemistry tests, including serum enzymes, and immunoelectrophoresis of plasma proteins were all unaffected by the treatment.
D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D012685:Sepharose / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D006493:Heparin; D012685:Sepharose; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium