Lipoprotein Subfractions, Uric Acid and Cardiovascular Risk in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

We assessed cardiovascular risk in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and evaluated the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and lipoprotein subfractions.

The study group consisted of 66 patients on dialysis and a control group of 25 healthy volunteers. Concentration of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) subfractions were analysed using a Lipoprint™. Lipid profiles and SUA were measured.

There were significant differences in the distribution of HDL1-HDL5 subfractions levels, which were significantly higher in patients with impaired renal function than in the control group (p≤0.013 for all comparisons). HDL7-HDL10 subfractions were significantly more prevalent in healthy volunteers compared with CKD patients (p≤0.001 for all comparisons). The analysis of LDL subfractions revealed significant differences only in IDL-B (p<0.05), IDL-A (p<0.05) and LDL2 (p<0.001) between patients with CKD stage 5 and controls.

Our study demonstrated that higher SUA level might be associated with lower prevalence of CVD among haemodialysis patients. An elevated SUA concentration in haemodialysis population may be a marker of better nutritional status and also represent the antioxidant properties SUA.