title: Non-pharmacological lowering of low-density lipoprotein by apheresis and surgical techniques.
abstract: In the past year, new data have appeared on the long-term benefits of low-density lipoprotein apheresis in severely hypercholesterolemic patients who are refractory to lipid-lowering drug therapy. Such data are critical for clinical decision-making, because they confirm the hypothesis that the dramatic reduction in low-density lipoprotein made possible by this technique produces clear-cut clinical benefits. Because of its efficacy and low incidence of side-effects, apheresis for severe drug-refractory hypercholesterolemia has superseded surgical approaches, such as liver transplantation or ileal bypass.
authors.affiliation: Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. rsl@mit.edu
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cashin-Hemphill
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007082:Ileum / Q000601:surgery; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010956:Plasmapheresis
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL