[The effect of LDL-apheresis on the long-term prognosis of hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery bypass grafts: a multicenter study].

Hypercholesterolemia is well known as a risk factor which had been shown to affect the long-term prognosis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The data were collected from multi-institutions documenting the long-term results of CABG in 61 hypercholesterolemic patients who received LDL-apheresis. Mean post-CABG period was 50 +/- 34 (+/- SD) months. Mean period of therapy by LDL-apheresis using Liposorber system after CABG was 25 +/- 17 months with a frequency of once per 2.6 +/- 1.3 weeks. Before initiating LDL-apheresis mean serum cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) were 327 mg/dl and 261 mg/dl, respectively. With combined LDL-apheresis and lipid-lowering drug therapy mean TC and LDL-C were reduced to 247 mg/dl and 177 mg/dl immediately pre-apheresis and 106 mg/dl and 60 mg/dl immediately post-apheresis, respectively. Two of 61 patients had PTCA post CABG. Percent free from cardiac event during the long-term period post CABG as calculated by the life-table method was 97% at 3 years and 94% at 4 years and thereafter. While number of the patients is still small, the aggressive cholesterol-lowering therapy by LDL-apheresis is suggested to improve the prognosis of hypercholesterolemic patients with bypass grafts.