Heparin-sorbent for low density lipoproteins removal in hypercholesterolemia.

Heparin-sorbent was developed in the USSR Cardiology Research Center for LDL-apheresis in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Clinical trials of the sorbent were started in 1985. Heparin-sorbent has a high capacity for LDL. One column (400ml) can remove 3 - 6g of LDL cholesterol, depending on the initial LDL content in the plasma. The sorbent demonstrates a high stability, it can withstand more then 75 sorbtion-desorbtion cycles with only a slight loss of the initial capacity. It means that one column can work for 1,5-2,0 years when used weekly. Heparin-sorbent is the sorbent of limited selectivity, apo-B content in eluate is 40-60% of the total protein content, but it is important that it does not bind HDL.