Effect of lipoprotein apheresis on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in familial hypercholesterolemic patients.

Extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is an established and highly effective therapy for the patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) not adequately responding to diet and drug therapy alone. This study was designed to measure the effect of lipid apheresis on oxidant and antioxidant status in a patient with FH. The levels of plasma lipid peroxidation were determined as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were established in one subject with FH before and after lipid apheresis. The pre- and post lipid apheresis procedures witness a significant decrease in oxidative stress (p < 0.05) but the erythrocyte levels of CAT, SOD and GPx were unchanged.