TRIGLYCERIDE-RICH LIPOPROTEIN ABNORMALITIES IN CAPD-TREATED PATIENTS

In the present study intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) and very- low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) composition, structure, and mass were analysed in fasting uraemic patients on continuous ambulatory peritone al dialysis (CAPD) (n=12) and on haemodialysis (HD) (n=15), and in 15 healthy volunteers. All the groups were matched for sex, age, and time on dialysis. Both groups of patients had elevated very-low-density li poprotein levels, CAPD patients four and HD group three times that of control. We found a fourfold and a twofold increase in the concentrati on of IDL cholesterol in the CAPD and HD group respectively when they were compared with the control group. Both groups of patients present an increased VLDL mass. The CAPD group showed a four-fold increase in IDL mass compared with the control group, which indicated a prepondera nce of large size and suggested that defective IDL clearance was invol ved. The IDL composition of the CAPD patients was significantly differ ent from that of the HD patients: a twofold increase in IDL mass was o bserved in the CAPD patients if compared with HD patients. We report n ew data concerning the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in CAPD treated patients, which con firm the adverse effect of CAPD on s erum lipids.