Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of long-term lipoprotein apheresis in patients with LDL- or Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia: Findings gathered from more than 36,000 treatments at one center in Germany.
LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) are main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lipoprotein apheresis (LA) were investigated in 36,745 LA treatments of 118 patients with CVD in a retrospective, monocentric study. Indications were severe hypercholesterolemia (n = 83) or isolated Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia (n = 35). Average age of patients at start of LA treatment was 58.1 years for males and 62.5 years for females. Medium interval between the first cardiovascular event and LA treatment was 6.4 ± 5.6 years and the average LA treatment period was 6.8 ± 4.9 years. On average treatments were performed once a week, via peripheral venous access in 79.3% of non-hemodialysis patients. In patients with hypercholesterolemia initial pre-LA LDL-C was lowered from 176.4 ± 67.0 mg/dL by 66.7 ± 10.8% per session, achieving a long-term interval mean value of 119.8 ± 34.7 mg/dL, i.e. reduction by 32.1 ± 19.6% (p < 0.0001). In patients with isolated elevated Lp(a) initial pre-LA Lp(a) was lowered from 127.2 ± 67.3 mg/dL by 66.8 ± 5.8% per session, achieving a long-term interval mean value of 60.0 ± 19.5 mg/dL, i.e. reduction by 52.8 ± 23.0% (p < 0.0001). After start of LA the average annual rate of major adverse coronary events (MACE) of all patients declined by 79.7% (p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis showed decline by 73.7% (p < 0.0001) in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia, and by 90.4% (p < 0.0001) in patients with isolated elevated Lp(a). Adverse events (AE) occurred in 1.1% of treatments. LA treatment of patients with high risk for CVD due to LDL and/or Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia was effective, safe, and well tolerated. The number of cardiovascular events, at least during a six-year period, declined by 80%.
Dres. Heigl, Hettich, and Partner, Medical Care Center Kempten-Allgaeu, Robert-Weixler-Straße 19, 87439 Kempten, Germany. Electronic address: heigl@mvz-kempten.de.
Franz
F
Heigl
Dres. Heigl, Hettich, and Partner, Medical Care Center Kempten-Allgaeu, Robert-Weixler-Straße 19, 87439 Kempten, Germany.
Reinhard
R
Hettich
Dres. Heigl, Hettich, and Partner, Medical Care Center Kempten-Allgaeu, Robert-Weixler-Straße 19, 87439 Kempten, Germany.
Norbert
N
Lotz
Dres. Heigl, Hettich, and Partner, Medical Care Center Kempten-Allgaeu, Robert-Weixler-Straße 19, 87439 Kempten, Germany.
Harduin
H
Reeg
Dres. Heigl, Hettich, and Partner, Medical Care Center Kempten-Allgaeu, Robert-Weixler-Straße 19, 87439 Kempten, Germany.
Tobias
T
Pflederer
Medical Economics Institute, Zieblandstraße 9, 80799 Munich, Germany.
Dirk
D
Osterkorn
Medical Economics Institute, Zieblandstraße 9, 80799 Munich, Germany.
Klaus
K
Osterkorn
Apheresis Research Institute, Stadtwaldgürtel 77, 50935 Cologne, Germany.
Reinhard
R
Klingel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006951:Hyperlipoproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)
Cardiovascular events; LDL cholesterol; Lipoprotein apheresis; Lipoprotein(a)