Extracorporeal LDL-Cholesterol Elimination in the Treatment of Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

The extracorporeal elimination of LDL-cholesterol could be performed using the classic non-selective centrifuge or membrane plasmapheresis. The modern methods are more selective and effective. The atherogenic particules are removed from plasma by active colon or capsula. The methods include: cascade filtration, imunoadsorbtion, heparin-induced precipitation of LDL, thermofiltration, dextran-induced precipitation of LDL and direct adsorption of lipids (DALI). The regular LDL-apheresis is the life-saving technique in the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. It is used in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia when the patients do not respond to diet and drugs therapy, too. The regular LDL-apheresis treatment may be followed by the decreased frequency of angina pain episodes, the reduction of ECG changes during the bicycle ergometry and significant disappearance of tendinous xantomas. Some prospective randomised studies has shown even in this group of patients, resistant to conventional treatment, a significant regression of atherosclerotic changes.