Apheresis technology for prevention and regression of atherosclerosis: an overview

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is at present one method of treatment in homozygous cases of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). It is also effective in the prevention of the development of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with heterozygous FH and other types of mild hypercholesterolemia, leading to the regression of the stenosing lesions. In this paper, an overview is presented on the development of the devices for LDL apheresis and its short- and long-term effects on FH mainly based upon experience with the Liposorber system. LDL apheresis has served to protect the lives of patients from life threatening diseases like myocardial infarction although observations for more than 10 years in some laboratories have shown that the progression of atherosclerosis has taken place in many patients, and more importantly, the involvement of the aortic valve with calcification has developed, especially in patients who had homozygous FH, making this the most obstinate complication of FH. Therefore, more aggressive treatment or the combination of LDL apheresis with other therapies is required in the future. LDL apheresis has also been approved for the treatment of glomerulosclerosis and arteriosclerosis obliterans.