Therapeutic Left Ventricular Assist Device and Apheresis on Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Pathogenesis and therapies of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have been discussed for a long time, but both of the ultimate answers are still unknown. In the last decade, the pathogenic role of immunological factors, such as cardiac autoimmune antibodies and cytokines, have been discussed attentively. This has led to one possible new therapy, immunoadsorption, which removes antibodies, and it has made a remarkable effect. However, there are other factors to remove. For the removal of cytokines and neurohormones, the most effective method is hemofiltration (HF). Also, double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) removes immunoglobulin as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and coagulation factors that may improve blood circulation, including the coronary arteries. Therefore, to eliminate all deteriorative factors, both apheresis therapies, HF and DFPP, should be performed. Due to the shortage of donor hearts, left ventricular assist systems (LVAD) have been used as a bridge to transplantation. It has now been reported that the total unloading of the left ventricle does not only maintain, but also recovers, the cardiac function, even from end-stage heart failure. However, the patients who have obtained a long-lasting recovery of cardiac function from an LVAD are still in a minority. To make this the majority, therapeutic LVAD should be combined with the apheresis therapies, DFPP and HF. We believe that this concept, a combination of HF and DFPP with therapeutic LVAD, will be the next generation of treatment that has a potential to postpone, or even avoid, heart transplantation.