How to treat lipoprotein nephropathy effectively?

  The application of immunosorbent therapy for lipoprotein nephropathy (LPG) significantly reduces urinary protein levels in patients in the short term.  Thirteen patients diagnosed with LPG between 2000 and 2007 were included in the study and treated with staphylococcal A immunosorbent therapy. Each treatment consisted of 10 adsorption cycles, and each patient received 10 treatments as a course of treatment, with 30 L of plasma regenerated per course. After one course of treatment (10 days), the mean urinary protein level of the 13 patients decreased significantly from (4.01±3.09) g/24 h before treatment to (1.21±0.97) g/24 h (P=0.001), and the blood ApoE ) level decreased significantly from (9.79±5.04) mg/dl before treatment to (6.20±2.22) mg/dl (P=0.004). Twelve of the patients underwent repeat renal biopsies, which showed a significant reduction or disappearance of lipoprotein plugs in glomerular capillary collaterals, and normalization of the original hyperalgesia in all patients. Long-term follow-up showed that the urine protein level rebounded in 6 patients after 12 months of treatment (LPG recurrence), and 4 of them received immunosorbent therapy again, which was comparable to the effect of the first treatment. No serious adverse effects occurred during all treatments.  It is reported that LPG is a glomerular disease characterized by the formation of intra-glomerular lipoprotein emboli and a significant increase in ApoE levels, which occurs mainly in Asian populations and is not well treated with immunosuppressive and lipid-lowering drugs.  The results confirmed that staphylococcal protein A immunosorbent therapy significantly improved the clinical symptoms of LPG patients, reduced or even eliminated lipoprotein emboli in glomerular capillary collaterals, and restored renal function. The investigators concluded that the proposed therapy provides a new avenue for the treatment of LPG and similar diseases. Some of the cases relapsed at long-term follow-up, and re-treatment with immunosorbent therapy remained effective. The investigators suggest that immunosorbent therapy should be performed regularly in patients with LPG.