Affiliations: Dept. of Neurology, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Austria
Note: [] Correspondence to: Manfred Walzl, M.D., Dept. of Neurology, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
Abstract: The effect of heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation (HELP), which is a relatively new method for safe and immediate reduction of parameters relevant to haemorheology, such as plasma fibrinogen or the lipoproteins, was investigated in 26 patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). 12 of them suffered from acute thrombembolic stroke, 14 had cerebral multiinfarct dementia. All the patients underwent 2 HELP applications within 8 days. The impact of HELP on CVD was studied by changes of laboratory data and by evaluation of clinical symptoms before and after treatment. Each HELP session caused an immediate, safe and significant reduction of important rheological parameters such as fibrinogen (p < 0.001), whole blood viscosity at high and low shear rate, plasma viscosity and red cell transit time (p < 0.01 each). Even total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (p < 0.0001 each), lipoprotein (a) (p < 0.003) and the triglycerides (p < 0.0001) had been reduced. The results in laboratory measurement were followed in both groups by a statistically significant improved neurologic recovery, represented in the values of the Mathew Scale, the Mini Mental State Examination and the Activities-of-Daily-Living-Test. These results can indicate the importance and influence of haemorheology on clinical symptoms in CVD.
Keywords: fibrinogen, HELP, blood viscosity, ADL, Mathew Scale, Mini Mental State Examination
