LDL Aphoresis

LDL refers to what is known as the "bad" cholesterol. The LDL Aphoresis procedure is like kidney dialysis. Blood is continually removed from a patient's vein and run through a machine that separates out the plasma. While the rest of the blood is passed back to the patient through a different vein, the plasma is run through another part of the machine that removes the LDL in the plasma. Thus, the blood is "cleaned" of the bad cholesterol.

The results of this procedure can dramatically reduce the LDL levels and help the patient avoid heart attack and stroke. The procedure takes about two to four hours and must be repeated every two to three weeks.