title: Low-density lipoprotein apheresis in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is performed in patients with homozygous familial hyper-cholesterolemia who lack LDL receptors and with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who are LDL receptor deficient with documented, symptomatic coronary artery disease who are resistant to diet changes and maximum drug therapy. LDL apheresis can reduce or abolish anginal symptoms and improve coronary lesions. Several reports reveal the improvement of insufficient peripheral blood flow. By extensively removing blood LDL and changing coagulation factors and various vasoactive substances, LDL apheresis improves blood rheology and thereby peripheral circulation. It seems worth trying on all patients with arteriosclerotic lesions, even if they are normocholesterolemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Purification and Medicine, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. akawa@kc.twmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawashima
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL