H.E.L.P.- Therapie bei okularen durchblutungsstorungen

By way of an extracorporeal circulation, the HELP-system (Heparin- induced extracorporeal LDL-precipitation) selectively eliminates fibrinogen, LDL-cholesterol, cholesterol, triglycerides and LP(a) from the blood plasma achieving, an immediate improvement of the hemorheological situation. HELP- treatment were administered to 56 (mean age 65.3 ± 9.5 years) with retinal artery or vein occlusions or with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION). The patients received 8 single treatments over a period of 7 weeks. A 40-50% reduction of fibrinogen and LDL after the first procedure significantly lowered whole blood and plasma viscosity as well as RCTT of about 15-20%. Visual acuity increased by two or more Snellen lines in all 4 patients with retinal artery occlusion, in 73.9% of the patients with nonischemic retinal vein occlusion and in 52.6% in the patients with AION after 3 months. Compared to a hemodiluted control group, patients with AION treated with HELP obained a statistically significant improvement of the mean sensitivity of the visual fields. The development of iris neovascularization in ischemic central retinal vein occlusion, was not influenced by HELP- therapy compared to the untreated group. Our studies showed a beneficial influence of HELP-treatment on the hemorheological situation, significant functional improvements were achieved only in patients with nonarteritic AION.