Effects of LDL apheresis and vitamin E-modified membrane on carotid atherosclerosis in hemodialyzed patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans

Background: Hemodialysis patients manifest accelerated atherosclerosis. Hemodialysis is associated with oxidative stress, which can be partially prevented with the use of a vitamin E-coated dialyzer. Adsorption of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been applied in the treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO). The aim of the present study was to determine whether the vitamin E-coated dialyzer and/or LDL apheresis affects carotid atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients with ASO.

Methods: Thirty hemodialysis patients with ASO were divided into four treatment groups: treatment with conventional cellulose or synthetic membranes (group A, n = 12), treatment with vitamin E-coated membrane (group B, n = 7), treatment with conventional membrane and LDL apheresis (group C, n = 6), and treatment with vitamin E-coated membrane and LDL apheresis (group D, n = 5). Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured before and 10 weeks after treatment and compared between groups. All values were referred to measurements after LDL apheresis.

Results: IMT and PWV, plasma CRP and IL-6 showed little change in group A throughout the experimental period. These decreased slightly from the baseline value in group B, but the change was not significant. In group C, IMT decreased from 1.12 +/- 0.24 to 1.02 +/- 0.18 mm (p < 0.05), and PWV decreased from 2,266 +/- 380 to 1,968 +/- 342 cm/s (p < 0.05). Plasma CRP and IL-6 concentrations also decreased significantly compared with baseline (p < 0.05). In group D, IMT decreased from 1.18 +/- 0.26 to 0.92 +/- 0.18 mm (p < 0.01), and PWV decreased from 2,284 +/- 390 to 1,786 +/- 284 cm/s (p < 0.01). Plasma CRP and IL-6 levels also decreased significantly compared with baseline (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: These data suggest that LDL apheresis and the vitamin E-coated membrane dialysis in combination may prevent further progression of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients with ASO.