Lipid abnormalities in chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome and dialysis

Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular development are the largest cause-specific reason for morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The high prevalence of cardio- and cerebrovascular death may be explained by multiple factors present in patients with progressive renal disease, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes mellitus, and hyperparathyroidism. Experimental studies have provided in vivo and in vitro data to support the notion that lipid abnormalities contribute to glomerular and interstitial injury of the renal parenchyma. Hyperchlolesterolemia and increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are prevalent in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is decreased, and reverse cholesterol transport is impaired in hemodialysis (HD) and pre-ESRD patients. Chronic renal failure patients treated with HD have an increased prevalence of intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and lipoprotein(a). The findings in diabetic patients corresponded with those in nondiabetic patients with renal failure, but diabetic patients have higher apoliprotein C-III and apoliprotein E concentrations. Impaired lipid metabolism is common in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). In most ESRD patients treated with peritoneal dialysis hypercholesterolemia and hyperglyceridemia are found. Wide panels of therapeutic interventions aimed at correcting the lipid abnormalities that may develop in chronic renal patients as well as in ESRD patients are currently available. Although some novel pharmacological agents are remarkably effective in returning the lipid abnormalities to normal, there is still no convincing evidence based on long-term prospective studies, that would clearly demonstrate a significant reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of ESRD patients. The therapeutic approaches, which may be considered, include mainly dietary and life-style modifications, selective use of some technical components of dialysis systems, and the judicious prescriptions of lipid-lowering drugs.