What does the treatment involve?

Lipoprotein apheresis requires two needles to access two upper limb veins or an arterio-venous fistula. Fortnightly treatments take around 2-3 hours.

Apolipoprotein B100, the atherogenic lipoprotein associated with LDL and VLDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) (‘bad cholesterol’) are removed by the treatment, and most HDL cholesterol (‘good cholesterol’) is preserved.

Patients receive anti-coagulant therapy using heparin and/or acid citrate dextrose (ACD) during treatment. There are currently 7 UK lipoprotein apheresis centres—in Cardiff, London (Harefield and Hammersmith Hospitals), Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham and Nottingham.

For further patient information regarding this treatment see the HEART UK website.