Effect of specific lipoprotein(a) apheresis on coronary atherosclerosis regression assessed by quantitative coronary angiography (original) (raw)

To evaluate the effect of specific lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] apheresis on coronary atherosclerosis progression in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with elevated Lp(a) levels. A total of 30 subjects (mean age 53.5 ± 8.3 years, 70% male) with CHD verified by angiography, Lp(a) > 50 mg/dL, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≤ 2.5 mmol/L on chronic statin treatment were prospectively evaluated for 18 months. Patients were allocated to receive specific Lp(a) apheresis, which was carried out weekly with Lp(a) Lipopak(®) columns (POCARD Ltd., Russia) (n = 15), or atorvastatin only (n = 15). Blinded quantitative coronary angiography analyses of percent diameter stenosis and minimal lumen diameter (MLD) were performed at baseline and after the 18-month treatment period. By the single specific Lp(a) apheresis procedure, Lp(a) level decreased by an average of 73 ± 12% to a mean of 29 ± 16 mg/dL, and mean Lp(a)-corrected LDL-C decreased by 7% to a mean of 1.4 mmol/L. Median pe...