title: Hypercholesterolemia and LDL apheresis.
abstract: Several trials have assessed the link between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). LDL apheresis provides an effective role in treating patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in preventing the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Five different techniques of LDL apheresis are in current use: immunoadsorption (IMA), dextran sulphate-cellulose adsorption (DSA), heparin extracorporeal LDL precipitation system (HELP), double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) or lipidfiltration and direct adsorption of lipoprotein using hemoperfusion (DALI). All methods are efficient,but their cost restricts LDL apheresis to the treatment of FH. Indications could include other diseases, but controlled trials are still lacking.
authors.affiliation: Hypertriglyceridemia Department, Immunohematology Services, San Martino University Hospital, Genova--Italy. federico.morelli@hsanmartino.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Luigi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dejana
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ruzzenenti
mesh_terms: D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL