View source for Medicine:LDL apheresis

{{Infobox medical intervention
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| specialty    =hematology
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In [[Medicine:Medicine|medicine]], '''LDL apheresis''' is a form of [[Medicine:Apheresis|apheresis]], resembling [[Engineering:Kidney dialysis|dialysis]], to eliminate the [[Chemistry:Cholesterol|cholesterol]]-containing particle [[Medicine:Low-density lipoprotein|low-density lipoprotein]] (LDL) from the bloodstream.

==Uses==
It is used in diseases featuring high LDL, such as the [[Medicine:Rare disease|rare]] ''homozygous'' familial hypercholesterolemia, when the ''heterozygous'' form does not respond to medical treatment, or when the treatment has led to dangerous side-effects (such as [[Medicine:Rhabdomyolysis|rhabdomyolysis]]).

The procedure takes 2–4 hours and must be repeated every several weeks to keep the LDL levels from accumulation and causing [[Medicine:Cardiovascular disease|cardiovascular disease]].

It is an expensive procedure, limiting its use to severe cases of hyperlipidemia.

==Principles==
LDL apheresis works by leading venous blood through a column containing beads coated with [[Biology:Antibody|antibodies]] to apolipoprotein B (the main protein of LDL particles), [[Chemistry:Dextran|dextran]] [[Chemistry:Sulfate|sulfate]] cellulose beads, modified polyacrylate beads, or by precipitating LDL with [[Chemistry:Heparin|heparin]] at low [[Chemistry:PH|pH]], double membrane filtration or [[Biology:Immunoadsorption|immunoadsorption]] utilizing Lp(a)-specific antibodies. In all cases (apart from polyacrylate absorption), [[Biology:Blood plasma|plasma]] is separated from [[Biology:Blood cell|cells]] by a cell separator.

==References==
* Gordon BR, ''Incorporation of Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis into the Treatment Program of Patients With Severe Hypercholesterolemia''. Current Atherosclerosis Reports 2000;2:308-313. {{PMID|11122759}}.
* Thompson GR. ''LDL Apheresis''. ''Atherosclerosis'' 2003;167:1-13. {{PMID|12618263}}.
* Vella A, Pineda AA, O'Brien T. ''Low-density lipoprotein apheresis for the treatment of refractory hyperlipidemia.'' Mayo Clin Proc 2001;76:1039-46. {{PMID|11605688}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.apheresis.org Official website] of [[Organization:American Society for Apheresis|American Society for Apheresis (ASFA)]]

[[Category:Medical treatments]]

{{Sourceattribution|LDL apheresis}}