Lipid abnormalities in chronic uremic patients. Response to treatment with gemfibrozil

Seventy-four patients with end stage renal failure were studied. Forty-six of them were on hemodialysis (HD) while 28 were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In addition 56 nondialysis chronic renal failure (NDCRF) patients with various degree of renal failure were also studied. In all groups serum triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher and HDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Total and LDL cholesterol were significantly higher in the NDCRF and CAPD patients compared to controls. In 55 patients (20 on HD, 13 on CAPD and 22 NDCRF) with severe hypertriglyceridemia or diminished HDL cholesterol gemfibrozil 300 mg b.i.d. per os was given for 6 months. Drug treatment reduced significantly serum triglycerides in all groups of patients and increased the levels of HDL cholesterol in CAPD patients. Moreover, a statistically significant decrease of the levels of total and LDL cholesterol was noticed in HD and NDCRF patients. During treatment no significant side effects were observed and liver and muscle enzymes remained within normal values.