title: Plasmapheresis in familial hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: Twelve years' experience confirms that plasma exchange beneficially influences the course of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Pilot studies with low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis using a dextran sulphate affinity column suggest that this procedure has advantages over plasma exchange, which it may eventually replace. Combination therapy with lovastatin and LDL apheresis is currently being assessed as a means of inducing regression of coronary lesions. Preliminary results of a pilot study in four patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia are encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbir
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okabayashi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Trayner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larkin
mesh_terms: D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000628:therapy*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL