Isabel Palma1, Ana Rita Caldas2, Isabel Mangas Palma3, José Alexandre Queirós4, Anselmo Madureira4, José Carlos Oliveira5, Paulo Palma6, Carlos Correia7, Maria Helena Ramos2. 1. Serviço de Endocrinologia, Hospital Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: isabel.m.mangas@gmail.com. 2. Serviço de Endocrinologia, Hospital Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 3. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 4. Serviço de Nefrologia, Hospital Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 5. Serviço de Química Clínica, Hospital Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 6. Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 7. Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: High plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are a risk factor for the development of premature atherosclerosis. Direct adsorption of lipoproteins (DALI) is an apheresis technique by which LDL cholesterol is selectively removed from whole blood. OBJECTIVE: The present study describes our experience with DALI LDL apheresis in severely hypercholesterolemic patients. METHODS: Three hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from atherosclerotic complications were treated fortnightly by DALI apheresis, in a total of 308 sessions between December 2008 and January 2013. All patients were on the highest tolerated dose of statins and other lipid-lowering drugs. RESULTS: The sessions were essentially uneventful, adverse events being recorded in only 3.6% of them. A mean 63.3% acute reduction in LDL cholesterol was obtained. CONCLUSION: DALI apheresis proved to be a simple, safe and efficient method of lipid apheresis in hypercholesterolemic patients refractory to conservative lipid-lowering therapy.
INTRODUCTION: High plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are a risk factor for the development of premature atherosclerosis. Direct adsorption of lipoproteins (DALI) is an apheresis technique by which LDL cholesterol is selectively removed from whole blood. OBJECTIVE: The present study describes our experience with DALI LDL apheresis in severely hypercholesterolemicpatients. METHODS: Three hypercholesterolemicpatients suffering from atherosclerotic complications were treated fortnightly by DALI apheresis, in a total of 308 sessions between December 2008 and January 2013. All patients were on the highest tolerated dose of statins and other lipid-lowering drugs. RESULTS: The sessions were essentially uneventful, adverse events being recorded in only 3.6% of them. A mean 63.3% acute reduction in LDL cholesterol was obtained. CONCLUSION: DALI apheresis proved to be a simple, safe and efficient method of lipid apheresis in hypercholesterolemicpatients refractory to conservative lipid-lowering therapy.