Long term result of LDL selective plasma adsorption therapy on familial hypercholesterolemia.

A newly developed low density lipoprotein (LDL) selective adsorption column from the separated plasma was applied to one patient of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia for 20 months at intervals of two weeks. LDL selective adsorption column, Liposorber LA-40, contains 400 ml of swollen dextran sulfate cellulose beads. The long-term, 20 month results of treatment with LDL selective plasma adsorption therapy are reported. LDL selective plasma adsorption therapy by Liposorber is useful in decreasing LDL-cholesterol of familial hypercholesterolemia and is more specific and produces a smaller loss of useful components of the serum than the double filtration plasmapheresis treatment. This treatment is effective in improving clinical conditions of familial hypercholesterolemia. In spite of our lengthy treatment with this therapy, no blood transfusion and no replacement of fluids was done in 20 months.