Diagnosis and classification of dyslipidemia in renal disease

Renal disease is accompanied by specific alterations of the lipoprotein metabolism. While marked hyperlipidemia is a characteristic finding in the nephrotic syndrome, the dyslipoproteinemia of renal insufficiency is predominantly reflected in an abnormal apolipoprotein pattern but does not necessarily include elevated plasma lipid concentrations. The specific changes in nephrotic syndrome include increased formation primarily of cholesterol-rich and to a varying extent of triglyceride-rich ApoB-containing lipoproteins in the VLDL-LDL density range with little or no change among the ApoA-containing lipoproteins in HDL. The dyslipoproteinemia of renal failure is, on the other hand, mainly characterized by a decreased catabolism of the triglyceride-rich ApoB-containing lipoproteins with increased concentrations of partially metabolized lipoproteins of intermediate and very low density and a decreased concentration of ApoA-containing lipoproteins in HDL. In addition, increased levels of Lp(a) are found both in the nephrotic syndrome and in renal failure. Dialysis treatment appears to have only a modest influence on the renal dyslipoproteinemia. Due to its atherogenic character, the dyslipidemia of renal disease may be related to the accelerated development of cardiovascular disease in these patients.