ASSESSMENT OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN APHERESIS SYSTEMS

It has already been 10 years since the introduction of low-density lip oprotein (LDL) apheresis technologies. They have been established as t echnically and medically feasible for long-term treatment and economic ally acceptable, and their long-term treatment effects have been deter mined. Currently, there are efforts to develop more selective LDL remo val systems. However, after 10 years of research, it is time to carefu lly review this strategy. The approach may have become too specific in light of the multiple macromolecules involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this paper, the six currently available LDL aphere sis systems (plasma exchange, double filtration plasmapheresis, thermo filtration, LDL chemical adsorption (Kaneka system), LDL immunoadsorpt ion, and the heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation [HELP] s ystem) were reviewed and scored from various points of view such as ef fectiveness, simplicity, safety, and cost performance. Finally, each s ystem was assessed from the global point of view in relation to the pa thogenesis of lipid-related diseases.