THE INFLUENCE OF LDL APHERESIS ON MACROCI RCULATION AND MICROCIRCULATION

The goal of this study was to demonstrate any effects on macro-and mic rocirculation during LDL apheresis. This study included 12 patients wh o required continuous apheresis treatment (dextransulfate, immune adso rption) due to, until now, treatment refractory familial hypercholeste rolemia and coronary heart disease. With regard to the reactive blood perfusion of the underarm due to venous occlusion as determined by ple thysmography, significant improvement could be demonstrated after a si ngle treatment as well as during the course of two months. This is obv iously due to a reduction in viscosity or a reduction in aggregation o f the erythrocytes and platelets. In addition, improvement in endothel ial dysfunction, smaller increase in the vessel diameter due to regres sion of arteriosclerotic plaques should be mentioned. Significant impr ovement in microcirculation could not be demonstrated. Despite signifi cant changes, fibrinogen and antioxidative capacity do not play a sign ificant role in explaining these rheological alterations.