Their team specializes in the evaluation, treatment and management of lipid disorders. The University of Michigan Lipid Management Program's expert team will evaluate you whether LDL apheresis is right for you. How can I find out if I need LDL Apheresis? We will work with you and your insurance carrier to determine your coverage for this procedure. Most insurance carriers cover the cost of LDL apheresis, which is approximately $2500 per treatment. The research has shown that with LDL apheresis, LDL cholesterol can be reduced by up to 80 percent.
The reduction in LDL cholesterol has been shown to reduce heart attacks and the progression of coronary disease, as well as improve vascular function. There is a low incidence of adverse events (most commonly low blood pressure). With over 16 years of worldwide experience on more than 2,500 patients and 250,000 tests, the safety and effectiveness of LDL apheresis is well known.
The procedure takes approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete. Individuals undergoing LDL apheresis would go to the Transfusion and Apheresis Service in the University Hospital every two weeks or as indicated by the lipid specialists. The plasma is then returned to the patient. The patient's blood is separated into cells and plasma, then the plasma is diverted over a column containing a material that locks onto the LDL particles and safely removes it without removing the HDL cholesterol and other important blood substances. LDL apheresis is a procedure similar to kidney dialysis that targets the "bad" cholesterol containing particles including LDL, VLDL, and Lp(a). Eligible patients who choose LDL apheresis are followed by our lipid specialists to assure safety, requirements for medications, and desired treatment targets. Individuals are referred to the Lipid Management Program for evaluation of the treatment option.
Cardiovascular Medicine and Pathology work together to offer this procedure. The procedure is performed in the University Hospital Transfusion and Apheresis Service. The University of Michigan is one of the few centers in the United States to perform this procedure, and the only one in Michigan at this time. A machine is used to pump the patient's blood through a filter that selectively removes LDL particles containing the cholesterol. LDL apheresis removes unwanted LDL cholesterol from the blood. There is now an FDA approved treatment option for these patients known as LDL apheresis. However, for some persons even combination therapies may not be enough, especially for those with a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease. Traditional treatments for high cholesterol are a low fat diet and medications such as the statin family alone or in combination with other drugs (Lipitor™, Zocor™, Pravachol™, Lescol™, lovastatin, Welchol™, Zetia™, Advicor™, and niacin). Treating high cholesterol with LDL Apheresis
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