The Rogosin Institute

Cholesterol/Lipid Disorders

Some people produce a very high level of cholesterol in their blood, due to an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. These patients do not respond well to traditional treatments for high cholesterol, such as diet and exercise.

She tried everything to lower her cholesterol but still developed coronary artery atherosclerosis and underwent a number of angioplasties to improve the related symptoms.  The relief was only temporary.

"It was after one of my angioplasties that my cardiologist just threw up his hands and said we have to find something else to try to help you," Rhoda said. "He found out that The Rogosin Institute was a pioneer in coming up with a procedure to help patients with this disease."

The procedure is a cholesterol cleansing process.  Blood is drawn from a vein, passed through a chamber (column) that removes only LDL cholesterol and then immediately returned to the patient.  Whereas cholesterol levels in some patients do not respond to diet, exercise and medication, all patients significantly lower their cholesterol when treatments are performed every two to three weeks.

Rhoda was approved for the process and has undergone the LDL-apheresis for about a year now.

"I found that my quality of life improved incredibly." Rhoda describes the procedure as "quite a simple treatment" that takes three hours to four hours. To pass the time, Rhoda may bring a DVD player and watch movies, or read or visit with others around her.

"The time spent is easy. The people are fabulous. It has given me energy that I didn't have before. I feel less fatigued. This past summer I was back to bike riding. Before, I couldn't make it up a hill without stopping in dire pain. The LDL-apheresis has given me back the quality of life I didn't think I would ever get back again."