LIPID ABNORMALITIES OF ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANES IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTSWITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

Lipids in erythrocyte membranes from 16 hemodialysis patients and 16 h ealthy volunteers were studied using gas chromatographic mass spectrom etry. 7-Keto cholestadiene was first reported in this study, The ratio s of 7-keto cholestadiene to cholesterol, the ratios of arachidonate t o cholesterol and the ratios of dochosahexanate to cholesterol in peak heights of chromatograms were measured in both groups as the markers of lipid peroxidation. Higher 7-keto cholestadiene/cholesterol ratios and lower arachidonate/cholesterol and dochosahexanate/cholesterol rat ios were significantly observed in hemodialysis patients compared with healthy subjects. Our results are evidence that hemodialysis patients are exposed to much oxidative stress. It has been suggested that, dur ing hemodialysis, leukocytes are activated by contact with non-physiol ogical surfaces of the blood line tubing and produce oxygen free radic als. Oxygen free radicals attack cholesterol, arachidonate and dochosa hexanate to produce lipid peroxides. In this study, this cell activati on may be responsible For the increased lipid peroxidation of hemodial ysis patients, 7-Keto cholestadiene, arachidonate and dochosahexanate can be used as markers of lipid peroxidation in hemodialysis patients.