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Changes in C‐reactive Protein Plasma Levels During Low‐density Lipoprotein Apheresis
Author(s) -
Kojima Shunichi,
Shida Mikio,
Yokoyama Hiroyuki
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
therapeutic apheresis and dialysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.415
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1744-9987
pISSN - 1744-9979
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-0968.2003.00080.x
Subject(s) - apheresis , medicine , c reactive protein , ldl apheresis , lipoprotein , low density lipoprotein , plasma levels , interleukin 6 , endocrinology , cholesterol , gastroenterology , inflammation , platelet
C‐reactive protein (CRP) is one of the important risk factors for atherosclerosis, and its serum level is lowered by popular cholesterol‐lowering drugs, statins. This study was undertaken to examine the changes of CRP levels during dextran‐sulfate (DS) low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis. In 15 apheresis sessions in seven patients with severe hypercholesterolemia (four men and three women, aged between 36 and 70 years), changes in CRP levels were examined. The efficiency in adsorption of CRP with DS column was evaluated by measuring CRP levels in both pre‐ and post‐column plasma. In one patient, the effect of repeated apheresis sessions on CRP preapheresis levels was examined. The changes in interleukin (IL)‐6 plasma levels were also examined in six sessions. Although IL‐6 levels after 3000 mL‐plasma treatment rose to 170% of preapheresis levels, CRP levels decreased significantly (from 1.91 ± 0.49 mg/L to 0.89 ± 0.24, P < 0.01). C‐reactive protein was almost completely adsorbed by the DS column and CRP preapheresis levels were decreased gradually by repetition of apheresis. CRP, a novel risk factor of atherosclerosis, was effectively removed by DS‐LDL apheresis. The decrease in CRP plasma levels may be involved in prevention of atherosclerotic vascular diseases due to DS‐LDL apheresis.