title: Efficacy of different low-density lipoprotein apheresis methods.
abstract: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is a treatment option in patients with coronary heart disease and drug resistant hypercholesterolemia. Various apheresis systems based on different elimination concepts are currently in use. We compared the efficacy of 4 different apheresis systems concerning the elimination of lipoproteins. The study included 7 patients treated by heparin extracorporeal LDL precipitation (HELP), 10 patients treated by immunoadsorption, 8 patients treated by dextran-sulfate adsorption, and 4 patients treated by cascade filtration. Ten subsequent aphereses were evaluated in patients undergoing regular apheresis for more than 6 months. Total cholesterol decreased by approximately 50% with all 4 systems. LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (64-67%) and lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] (61-64%) were decreased more effectively by HELP, immunoadsorption, and dextran-sulfate apheresis than by the less specific cascade filtration system [LDL-C reduction 56%, Lp(a) reduction 53%]. Triglyceride concentrations were reduced by 40% (dextran-sulfate) to 49% (cascade filtration) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) by 9% (dextran-sulfate) to 25% (cascade filtration). On the basis of plasma volume treated, HELP was the most efficient system (LDL-C reduction 25.0%/L plasma), followed by dextran-sulfate (21.0%/L plasma), cascade (19.4%/L plasma), and immunoadsorption (17.0%/L plasma). However, a maximal amount of 3 L plasma can be processed with HELP due to concomitant fibrinogen reduction while there is no such limitation with immunoadsorption. Therefore, the decision of which system should be used in a given patient must be individualized taking the pre-apheresis LDL concentration, concomitant pharmacotherapy, and fibrinogen concentration into account.
authors: Medical Department II, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. parhofer@med2.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors: K G
authors: KG
authors: Parhofer
authors: H C
authors: HC
authors: Geiss
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Schwandt
mesh_terms: D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006440:Hemofiltration; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D010953:Plasma Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D002784:Cholesterol