Lipoprotein lipase activity is favoured by peritoneal dialysis compared to hemodialysis

The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) pool is reduced by 50% in patients on hemodialysis (HD). LPL release by tinzaparin has not been investigated for peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if tinzaparin differently alters the pool of LPL and triglyceride levels of patients on HD versus PD.

Thirty-two patients on chronic PD or HD were matched to nearest age and gender. In order to release and thereby estimate the endothelial pool of LPL, all patients received a bolus of tinzaparin (75 units/kg). Blood samples were drawn for analysis of LPL activity and triglycerides (TG) between the groups.

The peak level of LPL released at 40 min after tinzaparin was similar in PD and HD patients. At 180 min, a slightly higher median level of LPL activity was noted in the PD patients (6.1 mU/mL (n = 6) versus 3.4 mU/mL (n = 16), p = 0.005). The TG concentration in plasma at 40 min was reduced relatively more in the PD patients than in the HD patients (p < 0.05). At 180 min, TG had returned to start levels in HD patients while they were still lowered in PD patients.

The negative effect of uraemia on the LPL pool in HD patients, known from other studies, here is shown to be similar in PD patients. Tinzaparin administration releases the LPL pool during each HD but does not cause an exhaustion of the LPL system over time. In contrast to HD, the LPL pool is not altered during PD.