title: [LDL-apheresis: current status].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  State of the art of LDL-apheresis and treatment of severe familiar hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical experience of treatment with LDL-apheresis of pediatric and adult patients with familial hypercholesterolemia using the following techniques: D.A.L.I., H.E.L.P., D.S.C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcome of treatment with LDL-apheresis in young patients, using the most recently introduced techniques, is reported. We have submitted to LDL-apheresis 11 pediatric patients. The youngest is aged 3.5. LDL-apheresis is able at improving the metabolic impairment and halting the natural evolution of atherosclerotic disease and atherosclerotic complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At present, LDL-apheresis is the most effective and safe therapeutic approach to the treatment of homozygous, heterozygous and double heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Plasmaferesi Terapeutica, Istituto di Terapia Medica Sistematica, Policlinico Umberto I, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italia. plasmaferesi@tin.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanutti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vivenzio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Giacomo
mesh_terms: D001781:Blood Component Removal; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000628:therapy*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL