title: LDL hemoperfusion--a new procedure for LDL apheresis: biocompatibility results from a first pilot study in hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis patients.
abstract: Current lipid apheresis techniques can remove atherogenic lipoproteins only from plasma. The initial mandatory separation of plasma and blood cells renders the extracorporeal circuit complex. We recently described the first clinical application of a new lipid adsorber that adsorbs low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) directly from whole blood. In continuation of our work, this paper describes the clinical biocompatibility of this new LDL hemoperfusion system. In a 2 center phase II clinical trial, 12 hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from overt coronary or peripheral artery disease were treated once with LDL hemoperfusion. The new LDL adsorber (DALI, Fresenius, St. Wendel, Germany) contained 480 ml of polyacrylate coated polyacrylamide gel. The anticoagulation protocol consisted of an initial heparin bolus followed by an acid citrate dextrose-A (ACD-A) infusion during the treatment. One patient blood volume was treated per session. All sessions were clinically uneventful. No signs of hemolysis or extracorporeal clot formation could be detected, and cell counts remained virtually constant. In a subgroup of patients (n = 4-6), further biocompatibility parameters were studied. Activation of leukocytes (elastase release), thrombocytes (beta-thromboglobulin [beta-TG] extrusion), and monocytes (interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6) were minimal. Complement activation (C3a and C5a generation) was negligible. The chosen anticoagulation protocol was both safe (constant ionized calcium levels) and effective (low thrombin-antithrombin formation). In summary, within the scope of a first pilot study, this new LDL hemoperfusion procedure combined the features of excellent clinical tolerance, good biocompatibility, and ease of handling. Phase III clinical trials will have to show whether these encouraging preliminary results can be corroborated in a larger patient population.
authors.affiliation: Klinikum Grosshadern, Medical Clinic I, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kleophas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Samtleben
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000639:trends; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003167:Complement Activation; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005782:Gels; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006464:Hemoperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000990:Antithrombin III; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019343:Citric Acid; D005782:Gels; D005947:Glucose; D006493:Heparin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D000099166:Polyacrylamides; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C002113:acid citrate dextrose; C006903:carbopol 940