H.E.L.P. Apheresis Therapy to Compare the Reduction of LDL Cholesterol

Condition(s) targeted: Hypercholesterolemia

Intervention: Secura, then Futura (Device); Futura, then Secura (Device)

Phase: N/A

Status: Active, not recruiting

Sponsored by: B. Braun Medical Inc.

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Patrick Moriarty, M.D., Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University of Kansas
Paul Thompson, M.D., Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Hartford Hospital

The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate that the performance of the modified Plasmat® Futura H. E.L. P. Apheresis System is non-inferior to the current FDA approved Plasmat® Secura H. E.L. P Apheresis System for use under the approved indication of the acute reduction of LDL-cholesterol from the plasma in populations for whom diet has been ineffective and maximum drug therapy has either been ineffective or not tolerated.

Official title: Randomized Multicenter Crossover Study to Compare the Plasmat® Futura Heparin Induced Extracorporeal LDL Precipitation (H.E.L.P.) Apheresis System to the Approved Secura System in the Reduction of LDL-c in Patients With Hypercholesterolemia

Study design: Other, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Crossover Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: The primary study endpoint is the change in percent measurements of the pre-to-post apheresis LDL measurements between the approved H.E.L.P. system and the modified H.E.L.P. system.

Secondary outcome: The secondary study endpoints are clinical lab profiles and device parameters.

Detailed description: The primary study endpoint is the change in percent measurements of the pre-to-post apheresis LDL measurements between the approved H. E.L. P. system and the modified H. E.L. P. system. The secondary study endpoints are clinical lab profiles and device parameters analyzed at specific time points throughout the study.

Minimum age: 25 Years. Maximum age: 70 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Subject is between 25 and 70 years of age (inclusive) at the time of randomization.

- Subject is an appropriate candidate for H. E.L. P. apheresis treatment for

hypercholesterolemia according to current Plasmat® Secura approval criteria.

- Subject has received a minimum of two consecutive bi-monthly* H. E.L. P. apheresis

treatments using the Plasmat® Secura apheresis system >30 days prior to the screening visit.

- Subject is willing to maintain cholesterol lowering dietary and drug therapies as

prescribed through the course of the study.

- Subject is willing and able to provide written informed consent and HIPAA Waiver.

- Sterile, post-menopausal, or using acceptable birth control for the duration of the

study. Acceptable birth control is defined as having a vasectomized, postmenopausal, or sterile partner; the ongoing use of approved hormonal contraceptives, barrier method, or an intrauterine device; or abstinence.

- Every 14 days (±2 days)

Exclusion Criteria:

- A History of a known sensitivity to heparin or ethylene oxide.

- A history of hemorrhagic diathesis, bleeding/clotting disorder, thrombocytopenia

(defined as platelet count < 150 x109/L), or for whom the use of heparin would cause excessive or uncontrolled anticoagulation or for whom adequate anticoagulation cannot be safely achieved (ie., hemophilia, recent surgery, acute internal bleeding, gastrointestinal ulcers).

- Females who are pregnant or lactating.

- Subjects< 106 lbs. or <48. 2 kg in body weight; or whose weight is >1. 5 times their

ideal weight.

- Certain cardiac impairments such as congestive heart failure, major arrhythmia, or

diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm/Hg on two separate occasions at least 24 hours apart.

- Renal insufficiency defined as creatinine greater >2. 0 mg/dlL or is dependent upon

renal dialysis.

- Untreated hypothyroidism; uncontrolled diabetes mellitus; or fasting triglycerides

>500 mg/dL.

- Serious systemic disease (e. g., advanced neoplasms, and acute hepatitis) including

Immune system suppression or compromise, that could preclude survival to study completion.

- History of stroke within 6 months of the screening visit.

- Received thrombolytic treatment < 7 days of screening. visit.

- Taken or requires a prohibited treatment < 30 days prior to the Screening Visit, or

requires a prohibited treatment at anytime during the course of the study.

- Neutropenia (neutrophil count < 0. 5 x109/L).

- History of liver disease or serum ALT and/or AST > 2X upper limit of normal range.

- History of dementia.

- History of anemia (value outside the lower normal range).

- ASA > 325 mg/day.

- Subject currently enrolled in another investigational study (does not apply to PMS for

Secura device).

- Subject with any other medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator might

put the subject at risk or interfere with his/her participation.

- Subject is unwilling or unable to comply with the protocol or to cooperate fully with

the investigator or site personnel.

Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut 06102, United States

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri 66160, United States

Related publications:

Julius U, Metzler W, Pietzsch J, Fassbender T, Klingel R. Intraindividual comparison of two extracorporeal LDL apheresis methods: lipidfiltration and HELP. Int J Artif Organs. 2002 Dec;25(12):1180-8.

Susca M. Heparin-Induced extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein precipitation futura, a new modification of HELP apheresis: technique and first clinical results. Ther Apher. 2001 Oct;5(5):387-93.

Schettler V, Monazahian M, Wieland E, Thomssen R, Muller GA. Effect of heparin-induced extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein precipitation (HELP) apheresis on hepatitis C plasma virus load. Ther Apher. 2001 Oct;5(5):384-6.

Moriarty PM, Gibson CA, Shih J, Matias MS. C-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation among patients undergoing HELP LDL apheresis. Atherosclerosis. 2001 Oct;158(2):495-8.

Starting date: August 2007
Ending date: November 2008
Last updated: May 19, 2008