The role of lipids in renal disease: future challenges

Experimental studies have provided in vivo and in vitro data to support the notion that dyslipidemia contributes to glomerular and interstitial injury of the renal parenchyma. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are a new class of lipid-lowering agents that have been extensively studied during the past decade. These agents have significant effects on circulating lipids and both renal and vascular injury. New insights into the mechanisms of action of these agents have revealed an important effect on a variety of inflammatory and fibrogenic processes that appear to have major implications for human renal and cardiovascular diseases.