Abstract
Heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation (H.E.L.R) is based on the fact that lipoproteins and fibrinogen are precipitated at a pH value of 5.12 in the presence of heparin. The elimination of excess fibrinogen from the patient's blood leads to a marked improvement in microcirculation, followed by an increased oxygen supply to the tissue. This permits performance of limb-saving surgical procedures instead of mutilating amputations.
Ten patients suffering from far-advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were submitted to 10 H.E.L.P. treatments each instead of undergoing amputations. Surgery could be limited to the removal of necrotic tissue only Wound-healing was uncompro mised in all the patients, and the H.E.L.P. treatment was free of side effects.
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