AIMS:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis removes various molecules including LDL/oxidized LDL and inflammatory cytokines and recovers clinical laboratory parameters. It is not yet known whether these advantages of LDL-apheresis improve the prognosis of patients with diabetic nephropathy accompanied by nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS:

In this study, three groups of patients were retrospectively surveyed in a single center, and followed for approximately 3 years: an LDL-apheresis cohort (LDL-a; N=20); a control cohort meeting the selection criterion of severe proteinuria ≥3g/24h (control-All; N=55); and a subgroup of control-All with more severe proteinuria ≥5g/24h (control-mSP; N=10), and evaluated the outcomes as survival and renal dysfunction and death/renal dysfunction free rate.

RESULTS:

Death/renal dysfunction free rate was significantly higher in LDL-a than control-All (χ2=4.50; P=0.03) and control-mSP (χ2=27.68; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest the possibilities which LDL-apheresis is considered to contribute to survival extension and renal function maintenance of severe diabetic nephropathy patients.

Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.