Serum cholesterol binding reserve and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Serum cholesterol binding reserve (SCBR, the capacity of the serum to solubilize additional cholesterol), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL . Ch) and serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in 53 chronically uremic patients (40 men and 13 women) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The values were compared with those of controls (149 men and 28 women) matched for serum lipid levels. Hypertriglyceridemia and decreased HDL . Ch were observed among the patients, confirming previous reports. SCBR values of the patients were not significantly different from those of controls except in a small subgroup of uremic diabeties, whose SCBR values were markedly decreased. There was a positive correlation between SCBR and the duration for which the patients had been maintained by hemodialysis. The results suggest that patients with higher SCBR values have a better prospect for surviving long duration of hemodialysis.