Treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common inherited cause of premature cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. This genetic disorder is characterized by high to extremely high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c or "bad cholesterol").1
Lipoprotein apheresis can be a treatment of choice for patients with FH (both homozygous and heterozygous) or elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] when lifestyle management and pharmaceutical therapies fail to achieve the desired reduction in LDL-c or Lp(a) levels.1
In lipoprotein apheresis, a distinction is made between whole-blood treatment and the plasma method. Fresenius Medical Care offers an adsorption system for whole-blood treatment (DALI Adsorbers) and a filtration system for the plasma method (MONET Plasma Fractionator).
DALI Adsorbers
MONET Plasma Fractionator
DALI lipoprotein apheresis is used to treat patients with severe hypercholesterolemia and/or elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). The objective is to reduce levels of LDL-c and Lp(a). This is an effective approach to reduce MACE (major adverse coronary events) in patients on very high cardiovascular risk.2
Lipoproteins such as LDL or Lp(a) are largely removed by charge interactions between the positively charged apolipoprotein and the negatively charged adsorber material.3-5 The reduction of LDL-c and Lp(a) levels can be individually adapted to a patient’s therapy needs by means of different adsorber sizes (DALI 500 Adsorber and DALI 750 Adsorber) and configurations of these (DALI 1000 and DALI 1250).5,6,8
A clinical study has demonstrated that LCL-c and Lp(a) levels were reduced by a mean of 71% and 64%, respectively, after one treatment with DALI.8
The MONET Plasma Fractionator is indicated for use in therapeutic apheresis, to reduce high molecular plasma constituents such as Lp(a), LDL-c, fibrinogen and immunoglobulin M (IgM) (e.g. in order to reduce LDL-c and Lp(a) in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia).7,8,10
LDL-c, Lp(a) and fibrinogen are removed from plasma by filtration: The target plasma constituents are retained by the fine pores of a plasma fractionating membrane, whereas smaller plasma constituents, such as HDL or albumin, pass the pores and return to the patient.7,8,10
The MONET Plasma Fractionator contains a Fresenius Medical Care polysulfone membrane, based on Fresenius Medical Care membrane technology and enhanced for use in lipoprotein filtration.10
1 Connelly-Smith L et al J Clin Apher 2023;38:77–278
2 Schettler V et al. Atheroscler 2024;398, 118601
3 Heuck C Ger Med Sci 2011, Vol. 9, ISSN 1612-3174
4 Bosch Ther Apher 2001; 5(4):239-243
5 Huang S et al.; J Lipid Res 2010;51:297– 308
6 Dräger et al. Eur J Clin lnvest 1998; 28:994-1002
7 Kozik-Jaromin et al. Atheroscler Suppl 2017;30:225–231
8 Instructions for Use DALI Adsorber (9797762-02)
9 Raina et al. Blood Purif 2019; 47(4):301-316
10 Instructions for Use MONET Plasma Fractionator (7510181 10/23)
11 Julius et al. Ther Apher Dial 2013; 17(2):179-184
12 Julius et al. Atheroscler Suppl 2015; 18:95-102
14 Mehdi M et al.; Nephrol Dial Transplant 2019; 34(S1):i234-i235
15 Pithova P et al. Poster presented at the DFSG congress; 2017 Sept 8 -10; Porto, Portugal
16 Soltész P et al. Orv Hetil 2021; 162(10):375-382
17 Schuff-Werner and Holdt; Artif Organs. 2002;26(2):117-123
18 Connelly-Smith L et al J Clin Apher 2023;38:77–278
19 Mickiewicz et al.; Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020;2020:9709542
20 Mehdi et al.; Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2019;34(S1):a253–a254