Efficacy and safety of DALI-LDL-apheresis in two patients treated with the angiotensin II-receptor 1 antagonist losartan

Direct adsorption of lipids (DALI) is the first low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis technique capable of adsorbing LDL and lipoprotein (a) directly from whole blood. The adsorber consists of negatively charged polyacrylate ligands linked to a Eupergit matrix. Negatively charged ligands give rise to activation of bradykinin, which is rapidly degraded by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Thus, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are contraindicated in DALI-LDL-apheresis. This is the first paper to describe the efficacy and safety of DALI-LDL-apheresis in patients treated with 50 mg of the angiotensin II-receptor 1 antagonist (ARA) losartan. Two hypercholesterolemic patients were treated for 79 patient months with weekly or biweekly DALI sessions (N=221 sessions). Approximately 1.4 patient blood volumes were treated per session. Acute reductions of LDL-cholesterol (63%) and lipoprotein (a) (62%) exceeded 60% and laboratory safety parameters remained in the apheresis typical range. Mean bradykinin plasma levels peaked in the efferent line post-adsorber at 1000 mL of treated blood volume; 467 fmol/mL (N = 6 sessions) in the ARA-treated patients and 671 fmol/mL (N = 9 sessions) in a control group of three DALI patients without ARA medication (P = 0.69, n.s.). Clinically, the DALI sessions for the ARA-treated patients were completely uneventful and blood pressure was not significantly different in the two groups. In summary, according to this retrospective pilot study, DALI-LDL-apheresis was shown for the first time to be safe and effective in patients on ARA medication.