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Efficacy of low-density lipoprotein apheresis combined with corticosteroids for cholesterol crystal embolism

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Abstract

Background

Corticosteroids have been widely used in patients with cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) and low-density lipoprotein apheresis (LDL-A) was reported to reduce the risk of end-stage renal disease in patients with CCE. This study was designed to evaluate the renoprotective effects of LDL-A in combination with corticosteroids in patients with CCE.

Methods

Thirty-five patients with CCE who, between 2008 and 2013, had shown renal deterioration after vascular interventions were retrospectively evaluated. All patients received corticosteroids; of these, 24 also received LDL-A and 11 did not, designated LDL-A and control groups, respectively. Differences in eGFR (ΔeGFR), 3 months and 1 year after CCE diagnosis, were compared in the two groups.

Results

The median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in all patients was 38.9 [interquartile range (IQR) 31.9–49.4] ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline (before vascular intervention). At diagnosis, it was 14.4 (IQR 11.3–21.8) ml/min/1.73 m2. The initial corticosteroid dose was 0.34 ± 0.10 mg/kg/day. The mean number of LDL-A treatment sessions in the LDL-A group was 4.3 ± 1.8. eGFR was increased significantly after LDL-A treatments, from 15.0 (IQR 12.3–20.1) to 19.6 (IQR 14.3–23.6) ml/min/1.73 m2 (P < 0.05). ΔeGFR tended to be higher in the LDL-A than in the control group at 3 months [median 6.5 (IQR 5.1–9.3) vs. 2.6 (IQR −0.6 to 6.3) ml/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.095] and was significantly higher at 1 year [median 7.5 (IQR 5.4–8.7) vs. 2.2 (IQR −3.8 to 5.1) ml/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.019].

Conclusions

LDL-A plus corticosteroids may restore deteriorated renal function better than corticosteroids alone in patients with CCE.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by grants from the Miyagi Kidney Foundation. These results were presented in part at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Kidney and Lipids. The authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Japan Community Health Care Organization Sendai Hospital, 3-16-1 Tsutsumimachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 981-8501, Japan

    Katsuya Ishiyama, Toshinobu Sato & Yoshio Taguma

  2. Division of Biostatistics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan

    Takuhiro Yamaguchi

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  1. Katsuya Ishiyama
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  2. Toshinobu Sato
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  3. Takuhiro Yamaguchi
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  4. Yoshio Taguma
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Correspondence to Katsuya Ishiyama.

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Ishiyama, K., Sato, T., Yamaguchi, T. et al. Efficacy of low-density lipoprotein apheresis combined with corticosteroids for cholesterol crystal embolism. Clin Exp Nephrol 21, 228–235 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-016-1272-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-016-1272-x

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