LDL apheresis in a homozygous familial hypercholesterolemic child aged 4.5.

Preliminary experience with the efficacy and safety of dextran sulfate cellulose low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis for the treatment of a 4.5-year-old girl with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease is reported. The decrease of the most atherogenic apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and lipoprotein(a) (Lp [a]), were in the ranges of 63.1-68.7%, and 52.5-58.6%, respectively. The child tolerated LDL apheresis without any clinically significant complications. Therefore, she was submitted to a long-term program of treatment at intervals of 15 days. The experience suggests the possibility of an early beginning of extracorp…