Objective: To observe the efficacy of heparin-induced extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein-lipoprotein alpha- fibrinogen precipitation (HELP) in clearing blood lipids.
Methods: Thirty-six patients were subjected to extracorporeal plasma lipid separation procedures that utilized heparin to induce the formation of the complex consisted of heparin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein and fibrinogen which was precipitated and consequently separated from the plasma. Blood samples were obtained from the patients both before and after the procedures to assay serum total cholesterol (CH), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C, apoliprotein A (ApoA) and apoliprotein B (ApoB).
Result: Significant differences were observed between the pre- and postoperative levels of lipoprotein (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Plasma lipoprotein can be partly cleared by way of HELP.