1ST EXPERIENCE IN APPLICATION OF HEPARIN-INDUCED EXTRACORPOREAL LDL PRECIPITATION (HELP) IN ACUTE THROMBOEMBOLIC STROKE

Heparin-induced Extracorporeal LDL < total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen > Precipitation (H.E.L.P.) was applied in cases of acute t hromboembolic stroke within 48 to 96 hours after onset. 42 patients ha d been randomized for the trial. In Group A 12 patients underwent a si ngle H.E.L.P. application, while remaining 10 patients formed a contro l group. In group B 10 patients had 10 H.E.L.P. applications, the othe r 10 patients firmed as controls. Results of group A: 4 days after H.E .L.P. an improvement in the Matthew Scale and in the Mini Mental State Examination could be obtained (p < 0.05 each). 10 days after H.E.LP. all the tests showed significant changes (p < 0.05 in the Matthew Scal e and in the Mini Mental State Examination and p < 0.01 in the Activit ies-of-Daily-Living Score). Relatet to the controls there appeared a s tatistically significant difference 4 days after H.E.L.P. in the Mini Mental State Examination and in the Activities-of-Daily-Living Score ( p < 0.05 each). At day 10 all the tests showed a difference to the con trols (p < 0.05 in the Matthew Scale and p < 0.01 in the other tests). Results of group B 10: One day after 1st H.E.L.P. a statistically sig nificant difference could be observed in all the tests (p < 0.05 in th e Matthew Scale and the Mini Mental State Examination and p < 0.01 in the Activities-of-Daily-Living Score). At that time even a difference to the controls became visible (p < 0.05 in the Matthew scale, p < 0.0 1 in the other tests). Up to 5 H.E.L.P. applications and in relation t o the initial values a further improvement could be seen in the Matthe w Scale (p < 0.05) as well as in the Mini Mental State Examination and in the Activities-of-Daily-Living Score (p < 0.01 each). However, no further improvement was observed between the 5th and the 10th H.E.L.P. , but the difference to the controls remained stable in the Matthew Sc ale and Mini Mental State Examination (p < 0.05 each) and in the Activ ities-of-Daily-Living Score (p < 0.01).