SERUM LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN ALTERATIONS IN NEPHROSIS

Abstract

Sera obtained periodically from 44 hospitalized patients with uncomplicated nephrosis (nephrotic syndrome) were analyzed for albumin, lipids, and in many cases, lipoproteins. Concentrations of total serum cholesterol, phospholipid, triglyceride, and total lipid were related inversely and nonlinearly to serum albumin levels. The relationship between triglyceride and albumin was less regular than the others, and the form of the relationship was different. Pattern as well as total concentration of lipoproteins differed among the different sera with increased lipids. Either or both of the density less than 1.019 (D< 1.019) and the D 1.019-1.063 lipoprotein fractions were abnormally large; however, these 2 fractions usually were not greatly increased simultaneously. Principally the D 1.019-1.063 lipoproteins were increased in a majority of cases of nephrosis without great deficiency of serum albumin. Severe nephrosis usually was characterized by high levels of the D< 1.019 lipoprotein fraction, often with near normal D 1.019-1.063 lipoproteins and subnormal high density (D 1.063-1.21) lipoproteins. Abnormalities were also noted in composition of the lipoprotein fractions. Serum cholesterol and phospholipid were increased whenever the lipoproteins were increased, since both the D < 1.019 and D 1.010-1.063 lipoprotein fractions were rich in these lipids. Serum triglyceride and lactescence were increased appreciably only in sera with increased quantities of D < 1.010 lipoproteins.