Hemorheological effects of LDL-apheresis in familial hypercholesterolemia

Twelve patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) have been treated by LDL-apheresis,a method for selective removal of apolipoprotein-B containing lipoproteins by adsorption on dextrane sulphate columns. Mean plasma cholesterol reduction after treatment was 57% (p<0.001),due to LDL decrease.High density lipoprotein (HDI.) cholesterol was decreased by 16%. Blood and plasma viscosity were assessed before and seven days after the treatment: blood viscosity was reduced by 26.8% (p<0.005) at shear rate 11.25 sec-1,as well as by 11.7% (p<0.005) at 450 sec-I. Hematocrit was 37.0 before and 35.9 seven days later. No statistically significant difference was observed for plasma viscosity. Relative blood viscosity (blood/ plasma viscosity ratio) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased at high shear rates, suggesting that removal of LDL improves red cell deformability.