What is the role of LDL apheresis in persons with kidney disease?
Persons who are homozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia, or those with an LDL cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL and documented coronary heart disease, or those with an LDL cholesterol ≥300 mg/dL despite medical therapy, or people intolerant of medical therapy are often candidates for LDL apheresis.
Apheresis decreases LDL cholesterol by 50% to 75% per session and are usually performed on a weekly or biweekly basis.
The above indications and results are based on small-scale studies done in the general population without specific recommendations for persons with kidney disease.