[Hyperlipoproteinemia and LDL apheresis. Clinical experiences with the H.E.L.P. system].
No question, one of the leading causal factors for early atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) is the abundance of LDL-cholesterol in the blood, exceeding limits of 100 mg/dl. Thus, recommendations for therapy focus on LDL-levels less than 100 mg/dl. With the introduction of the statins--a very potent family of lipid lowering agents--such target levels can be achieved in most of the patients, resulting in a drastic decrease of LDL, CHD incidences, as well as in a reduction of cardiac and total mortality. There is, however, a remaining small group of patients, who is more or less resistant to an adequate combination of dietary and drug therapy. For these patients, various techniques of apheresis are available for over 15 years. Some of them have been approved by the FDA in the US and comparable regulatory offices in Europe. The most extensive experimental and clinical experience was gathered with the H.E.L.P.-system of B. Braun Melsungen, which differs from other apheresis techniques by its efficiency to eliminate LDL, Lp(a), Fibrinogen and CRP simultaneously. The clinical results obtained up to day with the apheresis clearly demonstrate a significant reduction of risk factors and clinical events, as well as an excellent long-term tolerance.
Jaeger
B R
BR
Institut für Klinische Chemie am Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Seidel
D
D
D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006951:Hyperlipoproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein