METABOLIC DISEASES
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Metabolic processes form the basis of all vital body functions. These processes are complex and affect every aspect of our organism. Vital metabolic processes are constantly taking place inside every cell of the human body. If these processes become unbalanced, we speak of a metabolic disorder, which, if left untreated, can lead to a metabolic disease. The causes are varied and can be genetic or environmental.
Metabolic Diseases
Causes of metabolic diseases
Metabolic diseases can have various causes. Here are some of the most common causes of metabolic diseases:
Causes of metabolic diseases
01
Environmental factors
Metabolic diseases can be influenced by various environmental factors.
02
Nutrition
An unhealthy diet high in sugar, saturated fat and processed foods can increase the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
03
Environmental toxins
Exposure to environmental toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides and air pollution can impair metabolism and increase the risk of metabolic diseases.
04
lifestyle
An inactive lifestyle, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect metabolism and lead to health problems.
05
stress
Chronic stress can affect hormonal balance and disrupt metabolism, which can increase the risk of metabolic diseases.
06
Genetic factors
Congenital metabolic diseases are often due to genetic mutations.
Some genetic defects are hereditary, while others occur spontaneously.
Family predisposition plays an important role in the development of metabolic diseases.
Examples of metabolic diseases
causes
FH is primarily caused by genetic changes in the genes for the LDL receptor (in about 80% of cases), apolipoprotein B-100 or the PCSK9 protein. These mutations impair the function of the LDL receptor and lead to impaired processing of LDL cholesterol in the body.
Most affected people are heterozygous, meaning they have inherited an abnormal gene variant from one parent. They have a 20-fold increased risk of early cardiovascular disease and often develop symptoms of coronary heart disease before the age of 50. The homozygous form (inherited from both parents) is very rare and results in patients often dying of a heart attack before the age of 30 without appropriate treatment.
The severity of the genetic mutation may influence cardiovascular risk differently in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to know patients' specific genetic defects to better guide their treatment.
Treatment
The main goal of treatment is to significantly reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Target values may vary depending on the stage of the disease. Typically, statins are preferred to lower cholesterol levels and a healthy lifestyle is recommended. In addition, new drugs such as PCSK9 inhibitors offer additional treatment options for people with FH.
In more severe cases, lipoprotein apheresis may be required, which we will discuss in more detail below.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most common inherited metabolic diseases that leads to elevated cholesterol levels in the blood. This in turn permanently increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
In Germany, an estimated 160,000 to 400,000 people are affected by the hereditary disease, which means that between 1:200 and 1:500 people have familial hypercholesterolemia.
Unfortunately, FH is often not recognized in a timely manner and is not adequately treated. Probably only around 15% of cases in Germany have been diagnosed. Most people only find out about their FH if they already have heart problems or if there is a high incidence of heart attacks in their family.
The disease is inherited, and people with FH usually have high cholesterol levels from birth that are difficult to control. There are different genotypes of FH that can influence the severity of the disease.
It is important to diagnose and treat familial hypercholesterolemia early to minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease. Family members of those affected should also be tested for FH as the condition is inherited genetically and early diagnosis and treatment can be life-saving.
Familial hypercholesterolemia
INUSpheresis®
INUSpherese® for familial hypercholersterolemia
Lipoprotein apheresis is considered when there is a particularly severe lipid metabolism disorder that cannot be adequately treated even with lifestyle changes and the use of lipid-lowering medications. This is particularly the case if the patient already suffers from vascular disease or there is a risk that an existing vascular disease will progress or spread to other areas of the body. In rare cases where patients cannot tolerate lipid-lowering medications, lipoprotein apheresis may be a helpful option.
The procedure itself has been known and used in conventional medicine for many years. In 2009, INUS Medical Center AG in Cham (Bavaria) developed INUSpheresis®, a special form of blood washing.
In contrast to conventional filters used in lipoprotein apheresis, INUSpherese® uses filters with a finer pore size. This allows the removal of up to 80% of lipids from the blood plasma.
Read more about how the INUSpherese® treatment works and how it works here.
This method of treatment helps improve microcirculation while reducing inflammatory markers and fibrinogen levels. That's why we at ELLANN® use INUSpheresis® as an accompanying therapy for FH. In addition, we develop an individual concept for each patient for the long-term reduction of blood lipid levels and cardiovascular risk.
According to a report published in 2022study, lipoprotein apheresis (LA) has been described as the most effective treatment option currently available to achieve maximal lipid reduction in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and lipoprotein(a) hyperlipidemia.
Although lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is considered an invasive method, the side effects encountered are low and it shows the best results in preventing major cardiovascular events. It is believed that the significant reduction in cardiovascular complications in patients with significant lipid disorders achieved by LA is due not only to the dramatic reduction in lipid levels, but also to the removal of other pro-inflammatory and atherogenic factors. Atherogenic factors are risk factors that can promote the development of arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
You can find more interesting studies here.
Study situation
⎯⎯• Allergies
⎯⎯• Lyme disease
⎯⎯• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
⎯⎯• Chronic hepatitis C
⎯⎯• Hashimoto
⎯⎯• Hyperlipidemia
⎯⎯• Crohn's disease
⎯⎯• multiple sclerosis
⎯⎯• Multiple Chemical Hyper-
sensitivity syndrome (MCS)
⎯⎯• Parkinson's
⎯⎯• Post-COVID syndrome
⎯⎯• Post-vac syndrome
⎯⎯• Rheumatism (chronic inflammatory)
⎯⎯• Heavy metal poisoning
⎯⎯• and more
INUSpheresis® was developed to remove a variety of disease-promoting substances and toxic substances from the blood. These include environmental toxins, heavy metals, allergens, metabolic products, inflammatory messengers, infection toxins and harmful proteins. Specially developed filters make it possible to specifically filter out these pollutants while preserving healthy components of the blood. INUSpherese® does not affect your vaccination protection because antibodies and immune cells that are responsible for your vaccination protection are preserved. This makes INUSpheresis® an extremely effective method for cleaning blood plasma and supporting general well-being and health.
INUSpheresis® is not a conventional blood wash or plasma exchange method. It is also not dialysis, in which urinary substances are filtered out. INUSpheresis® is characterized by the targeted removal of harmful substances, while essential and healthy components of your blood remain untouched. This includes vital electrolytes, proteins, nutrients, blood cells and antibodies. The use of specially developed filters ensures that only pathogenic contamination is removed during the treatment. This makes the treatment particularly gentle and generally very well tolerated.
The number of INUSpherese® treatments required depends on your individual health status and health goals. A basic cycle of two treatments within 48 hours is recommended. For more intensive needs, such as extensive heavy metal elimination or complex clinical pictures, a third and even fourth treatment session every 6 to 7 weeks can make sense. Your personal treatment plan will be drawn up by our doctors after a detailed consultation.
An INUSpherese® therapy, which consists of two treatments, accompanying infusion concepts and a preparatory medical consultation, is usually priced between €5,400 and €5,700. This cost information is intended to serve as a rough guide, as the exact investment can vary depending on your individual health condition and any additional therapy options. As part of the therapy planning, you will receive detailed advice and a detailed cost overview that is individually tailored to your health goals.