Home / Health / Kerala Hospital Performs Groundbreaking LDL Apheresis
Kerala Hospital Performs Groundbreaking LDL Apheresis
2 Jun
Summary
- First LDL apheresis for rare HoFH was performed.
- Procedure drastically reduced cholesterol from 500mg/dl to 40mg/dl.
- This advanced therapy is now available in South India.
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Kerala has successfully conducted its first LDL apheresis procedure, marking a significant step in managing inherited cholesterol disorders in South India. The treatment was performed on a 34-year-old woman diagnosed with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), a rare genetic condition characterized by dangerously high LDL cholesterol levels from birth.
Led by specialists from Cardiology and Transfusion Medicine, the procedure involved filtering the patient's blood to remove LDL cholesterol. This resulted in a remarkable reduction of LDL levels from 500 mg/dl to 40 mg/dl. HoFH can lead to early-onset cardiovascular disease, with a median life expectancy of only 33 years if untreated.
The patient had previously undergone bypass surgery at age 24 and continued to have high cholesterol despite aggressive medication. The apheresis procedure offers an effective treatment, though it requires repetition every two to four weeks. SCTIMST now joins a select group of Indian centers offering this advanced therapy.
