One year experience with a low density lipoprotein apheresis system.
BACKGROUND
Low density lipoprotein apheresis is used as a complementary method for treating hypercholesterolemic patients who cannot reach target LDL-cholesterol levels on conventional dietary and drug treatment. The DALI system (direct absorption of lipoproteins) is the only extracorporeal LDL-removing system compatible with whole blood.


OBJECTIVE
To describe our one year experience using the DALI system.


METHODS
LDL apheresis was used in 13 patients due to inability to reach target LDL-C levels on conventional treatment. They included seven patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, three who had adverse reactions to statins, and three patients with ischemic heart disease who did not reach LDL-C target level on medical treatment.


RESULTS
The average triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-C and LDL-C levels before and after treatment in all patients were: 170 +/- 113 vs. 124 +/- 91, 269 +/- 74 vs. 132 +/- 48, 42 +/- 8 vs. 37 +/- 7.9, and 196 +/- 77 vs. 80 +/- 52 mg/dl, respectively. Comparing the results of a subgroup of seven patients who had previously been treated with plasma exchange, it is noteworthy that while the reduction in triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C are comparable, the effect on HDL-C concentration was less apparent: from an average of 39.7 +/- 8.7 and 23 +/- 5.7 mg/dl before and after plasma exchange to an average of 43.9 +/- 8.1 and 38.4 +/- 7 mg/dl before and after LDL apheresis, respectively. Five patients developed treatment-related adverse events: three experienced allergic reactions manifested as shortness of breath, urticaria and facial flushing; one patient developed rhabdomyolysis, an adverse reaction that was not reported previously as a result of LDL apheresis; and one patient had myopathy with back pain. All untoward effects occurred during the first few treatment sessions.


CONCLUSIONS
LDL apheresis using the DALI system is highly efficacious for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. It is associated with a significant number of side effects occurring during the first treatment sessions. In patients not experiencing adverse effects in the early treatment period, it is well tolerated and can provide remarkable clinical benefit even after short-term therapy.
Durst
Ronen
R
Department of Medicine B and Center for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis, Hadassah University Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Rund
Deborah
D
Schurr
Daniel
D
Eliav
Osnat
O
Ben-Yehuda
Dina
D
Shpizen
Shoshi
S
Ben-Avi
Liat
L
Schaap
Tova
T
Pelz
Inna
I
Leitersdorf
Eran
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides