EFFECTS OF INFUSIONS OF SERUM ALBUMIN ON SERUM LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS IN NEPHROSIS

Abstract

Ten courses of serum albumin, each usually consisting of 25 to 50 g daily for 1 to 4 weeks, were administered intravenously to 7 patients with nephrosis. Serum albumin concentration and proteinuria increased. Complete loss of edema occurred in a majority of instances. Total serum cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL), and ratio of TC/PL, all of which were initially high, fell consistently during the albumin infusions. Serum triglycerides (TG) and lactescence decreased greatly in 3 of 5 patients with initially high levels of TG. In the same 3 cases there was a selective fall in lipoproteins of density < 1.019. No decrease in TG occurred in 2 patients with near normal levels of TG prior to the infusions. Free fatty acids changed inconsistently. Dextran appeared to induce lipoprotein changes which were similar to those obtained with albumin. Prednisone caused lipoproteins to change prior to any considerable change in serum albumin. The extent and means by which lipids and lipoproteins in nephrosis are altered by albumin, and possible implications regarding the cause of the lipid abnormality in nephrosis, are discussed.