Effects of intensive lipid lowering by low-density lipoprotein apheresis on regression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: Japan Low-density Lipoprotein Apheresis Coronary Atherosclerosis Prospective Study (L-CAPS).
Twenty-five heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemic patients treated with LDL-apheresis and drugs and 11 patients treated with drugs underwent follow-up angiography 2.3 years later. One-hundred thirteen lesions were measured by quantitative angiography. Mean LDL-cholesterol levels during the trial were 140 +/- 34 mg/dl in the apheresis group and 170 +/- 58 mg/dl (P < 0.05) in the control group. The mean changes in minimal lumen diameter of lesions were +0.19 +/- 0.30 mm (improved) in the apheresis group (n = 76) and -0.44 +/- 0.40 mm (worsened) in the control group (n = 37) (P < 0.0001). When progression and regression were defined as a change in minimal lumen diameter of +/- 0.67 mm, in the apheresis group, two (8%) patients had progression, 19 (76%) stayed unchanged and four (16%) had regression, but in the control group seven (64%) patients had progression and four (36%) stayed unchanged. The frequency of regression or no change was significantly higher in the apheresis group than in the control group (P < 0.004). Intensive cholesterol lowering therapy with LDL-apheresis and lipid lowering drugs can achieve a substantial decrease in LDL-cholesterol levels to induce regression of coronary lesions in familial hypercholesterolemic patients with advanced coronary artery disease.
Nishimura
S
S
Division of Cardiology, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Japan.
Sekiguchi
M
M
Kano
T
T
Ishiwata
S
S
Nagasaki
F
F
Nishide
T
T
Okimoto
T
T
Kutsumi
Y
Y
Kuwabara
Y
Y
Takatsu
F
F
Nishikawa
H
H
Daida
H
H
Yamaguchi
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL