[Dyslipoproteinemia: its importance in nephrology]

Dyslipidemia is a common feature of renal failure. It is primarily caused by delayed catabolism of lipoprotein particles. This is due to decreased activity of the key enzymes of delipidation of lipoprotein particles (LPL, HTGL) and of HDL remodeling (LCAT). In epidemiological studies no correlation has been found in dialysis patients between total lipids and atherosclerotic endpoints and a modest relation, at best, between more sophisticated apolipoprotein indices and vascular disease. Such lack of correlations are presumably explained by malnutrition as a confounding factor. Fascinating new observations in animal studies document that in various models of renal damage, development of glomerulosclerosis is accelerated by hyperlipoproteinemia, either endogenous hyperlipoproteinemia or hyperlipoproteinemia induced by feeding of fat. Conversely, correction of hyperlipoproteinemia mitigates development of glomerulosclerosis. Currently there is no firm evidence that the same is true in humans.