1991 Volume 55 Issue 1 Pages 68-80
In vitro filtration was used to characterize and compare the function of two types of LDL apheresis module: membrane filtration (module M: pore diameter, 0.04μm; effective surface area. 0.1m2) and LDL adsorption (module A: a column containing 20ml of polyvinyl alcohol gels fixed with polyacrylic acid). Module A had better selectivity of LDL removal, while module M could rapidly remove a larger amount of LDL. The effect of repetitive LDL apheresis with module 'A on the plasma cholesterol level and on the development of aortic atherosclerosis was examined in 6 heterozygous WHHL rabbits (5 to 10 months old; mean plasma total cholesterol level, 270±39mg/dl), treated with LDL apheresis at weekly intervals for 2 months. Plasma total and LDL cholesterols were lowered approximately 40% by a signal procedure. The LDL cholesterol level tended to de-crease as treatment progressed. while the HDL cholesterol level was unchanged or rose above the baseline value in a week after LDL apheresis. The ratio of atherosclerotic lesion area to whole aortic area was relatively low in treated rabbits (6.5±1.9%) in comparison with that in 5 untreated heterozygous WHHL rabbits (18.3±7.7%). The mean cholesterol content in the thoracic aorta was 4.9±1.3mg/g wet tissue in treated rabbits vs 13.3±6.1mg/g wet tissue in untreated rabbits. These results suggest that repetitive LDL apheresis might be effective in maintaining a lower level of LDL cholesterol and retarding the atherosclerotic process in vivo.
