LIMB SALVAGE WITH HELP (HEPARIN-INDUCED EXTRACORPOREAL LDL PRECIPITATION) IN PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL-DISEASE (PAD)

Heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation (H.E.L.P.) is based o n the fact that lipoproteins and fibrinogen are precipitated at a pH v alue of 5.12 in the presence of heparin. The elimination of excess fib rinogen from the patient's blood leads to a marked improvement in micr ocirculation, followed by an increased oxygen supply to the tissue. Th is permits performance of limb-saving surgical procedures instead of m utilating amputations. Ten patients suffering from far-advanced periph eral arterial disease (PAD) were submitted to 10 H.E.L.P treatments ea ch instead of undergoing amputations. Surgery could be limited to the removal of necrotic tissue only. Wound-healing was uncompromised in al l the patients, and the H.E.L.P treatment was free of side effects.