Effect of plasma exchange with and without concomitant drug treatment on lipids and lipoproteins in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia confirmed by tissue culture

Atherosclerosis. 1985 Nov;57(2-3):225-34. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(85)90036-x.

Abstract

Repeated plasma exchange is an effective treatment for young patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. We treated 2 homozygous and 1 heterozygous patient with very high cholesterol levels with continuous plasma exchange using human albumin solution as exchange medium. The treatment was repeated every 2 weeks in 2 patients and weekly in the third. Treatment periods of plasma exchange alone and of plasma exchange with concomitant drug therapy were compared. For drug treatment beta-pyridylcarbinol, the alcohol corresponding to nicotinic acid (0.9 g/day equivalent to 3 g of nicotinic acid) and cholestyramine (16 g/day) were used. Plasma exchange alone resulted in a decrease of all lipids by 55% and of apolipoproteins by 50-60% as compared to the plasma levels before exchange. Subsequently all lipoproteins rose again to reach pre-exchange levels within about 2 weeks. There was no difference between the homozygous and the heterozygous patients. Beta-pyridylcarbinol or cholestyramine given concomitantly did not alter the post-exchange increase of total, LDL, HDL cholesterol nor of the corresponding apolipoproteins except of apolipoprotein B.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apolipoproteins / blood
  • Cholestyramine Resin / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / blood
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / genetics
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / therapy*
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Lipoproteins / blood*
  • Male
  • Nicotinyl Alcohol / therapeutic use
  • Plasma Exchange*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins
  • Lipids
  • Lipoproteins
  • Cholestyramine Resin
  • Nicotinyl Alcohol