LDL Apheresis
LDL apheresis is a dialysis-like therapy that reduces LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 60 to 70 percent in patients with severely high cholesterol.
Our Approach Certain patients with very high, poorly controlled, LDL cholesterol levels can receive LDL apheresis at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center. A dialysis-like therapy, this treatment is performed bi-weekly and reduces LDL cholesterol levels by 60 to 70 percent.
LDL apheresis is a dialysis-like therapy in that the patient’s blood is passed through a machine to remove the LDL. Two veins must be accessed to do this. Patients visit Mass General Hospital bi-weekly to receive the treatment. These two to four hour treatments are generally very well tolerated by patients and reduce LDL levels, improving the standard of living for many patients.
Qualifying Patients
- An LDL above 300 mg/dL in the absence of coronary disease or
- An LDL above 200 mg/dL with coronary disease
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