Three different LDL apheresis columns efficiently and equally reduce lipoprotein(a) concentrations in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and small apolipoprotein(a) particles

IntroductionHigh levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] are associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study we determined apo(a) particle size and compared the Lp(a) reducing efficacy of three different LDL apheresis columns; DL-75, LA-15 and EC-50W in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).ResultsAverage Lp(a) concentration was reduced by 70%, 74% and 75% (all p < 0.0001) for DL-75, LA-15 and EC-50W, respectively. No significant changes in the relative proportion of the isoforms of 14 and 32 K 4 domains were observed after apheresis.ConclusionThree different LDL apheresis columns reduced Lp(a) efficiently with preserved ratio between apo(a) isoforms.