CHANGED COMPOSITION OF HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN SUBCLASSES HDL2 AND HDL3 AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

The concentrations of chloesterol in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction and the HDL₂ and HDL₃ subclasses were compared in 333 male renal transplant recipients, 36 male patients on maintenance hemodialysis, and 43 healthy men. The subclasses were separated by a precipitation method using polyethylene glycol 6000 and dextran sulphate. In hemodialyzed patients, total HDL cholesterol and both subclasses were reduced. In renal transplant recipients, both total HDL cholesterol and HDL₂ were normal, whereas HDL₃ remained reduced, analogous to hemodialyzed patients. It can be concluded that a successful renal transplantation has a beneficial effect on HDL metabolism and thus on the development of atherosclerosis.