title: LDL-apheresis contributes to survival extension and renal function maintenance of severe diabetic nephropathy patients: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis removes various molecules including LDL/oxidized LDL and inflammatory cytokines and recovers clinical laboratory parameters. It is not yet known whether these advantages of LDL-apheresis improve the prognosis of patients with diabetic nephropathy accompanied by nephrotic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, three groups of patients were retrospectively surveyed in a single center, and followed for approximately 3 years: an LDL-apheresis cohort (LDL-a; N = 20); a control cohort meeting the selection criterion of severe proteinuria ≥ 3g/24h (control-All; N = 55); and a subgroup of control-All with more severe proteinuria ≥ 5 g/24h (control-mSP; N = 10), and evaluated the outcomes as survival and renal dysfunction and death/renal dysfunction free rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Death/renal dysfunction free rate was significantly higher in LDL-a than control-All (χ(2) = 4.50; P = 0.03) and control-mSP (χ(2) = 27.68; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the possibilities which LDL-apheresis is considered to contribute to survival extension and renal function maintenance of severe diabetic nephropathy patients.
authors.affiliation: Shin-Matsudo Central General Hospital, Japan; Department of Pathology, Dokkyo Medical University, Koshigaya Hospital, Japan. Electronic address: satou@db4.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Shin-Matsudo Central General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amaha
authors.affiliation: Shin-Matsudo Central General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.affiliation: Shin-Matsudo Central General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dokkyo Medical University, Koshigaya Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Shin-Matsudo Central General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL
keywords: Diabetic nephropathy; LDL-apheresis; Nephrotic syndrome; Retrospective study