The HELP system: an efficient and safe method of plasma therapy in the treatment of severe hypercholesterolemia.

The HELP procedure provides a new means of very efficiently treating high LDL concentrations in severe hypercholesterolemia with the additional effect of lowering Lp(a) and fibrinogen while HDL are increased during long-term treatment. The HELP treatment also significantly improves plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation and erythrocyte filtration. Overall treatment tolerance is very good, and no major complications have been observed after approximately 10,000 single treatments in 155 patients--some of them treated for more than three years. In combination with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, a mean interval value of--75% for LDL as compared to the starting concentration may be achieved. The treatment has the advantage that the patient is not exposed to foreign proteins or compounds with attendant immunological problems. It displays a high degree of reproducibility and an almost unlimited capacity, guaranteeing a constant therapy independent of the clinic performing the treatment. We trust that the clinical benefit of this treatment regimen will be substantial for those patients who have problems in clearing LDL from their plasma pool and who are at the same time sensitive to elevated LDL levels by the development of premature coronary sclerosis.