Hypercholesterolemia and LDL apheresis.

Several trials have assessed the link between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). LDL apheresis provides an effective role in treating patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in preventing the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Five different techniques of LDL apheresis are in current use: immunoadsorption (IMA), dextran sulphate-cellulose adsorption (DSA), heparin extracorporeal LDL precipitation system (HELP), double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) or lipidfiltration and direct adsorption of lipoprotein using hemoperfusion (DALI).

Hypertriglyceridemia: apheretic treatment.

Patients with extremely high triglyceride levels and associated lipemia are at high risk for acute pancreatitis. Two factors can increase triglyceride-rich lipoproteins; one is overproduction and other is a defect in clearance. Either mechanism can cause hypertriglyceridemia and both may exist simultaneously.

Cord blood (CB) stem cells for wound repair. Preliminary report of 2 cases.

In 2 patients, to promote skin wound/lesion repair we used fibrin-platelet glue combined with HLA compatible (2 mismatches accepted) buffy coats containing CD 34+ cord blood cells. The fibrin platelet glue was prepared with autologous apheresis platelets and cryoprecipitate. The original product was divided into 3 and 4 aliquots respectively for a correspondent number of applications.