NANDROLONE DECANOATE REDUCES SERUM LIPOPROTEIN(A) CONCENTRATIONS IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

We have studied the changes in the lipid profile of 14 chronic hemodia lysis patients receiving a 6-month cycle of nandrolone decanoate as tr eatment for anemia, Nandrolone decanoate was administered in a weekly intramuscular dose of 200 mg and resulted in an increase in the hemogl obin concentration (baseline, 7.9 +/- 0.9 g/dL; month 6, 10.8 +/- 1.7 g/dL; P < 0.001, ANOVA) and also produced relevant modifications in th e lipid concentrations. The most significant finding was a decrease in the concentration of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]: baseline, 19.8 mg/dL (me dian), month 2, 10.6 mg/dL; month 4, 8.7 mg/dL; and month 6, 7.1 mg/dL (P < 0.001, Friedman). Other lipid changes induced by nandrolone deca noate were an increase in the concentrations of apolipoprotein B (P < 0.02, ANOVA) and triglyceride (P = NS, ANOVA) and a decrease of high-d ensity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < 0.001, ANOVA) and apolipopro tein A-I (P = NS, ANOVA), The decrease in HDL cholesterol was at the e xpense of the HDL, cholesterol subfraction, whereas HDL, remained unch anged, These lipid modifications were reversible; 4 months after nandr olone decanoate withdrawal, the lipid concentrations were similar to t he basal values, The changes in Lp(a) levels did not correlate with th ose of hemoglobin or the other lipid parameters, suggesting that the u nderlying mechanisms are unrelated. Our findings could be clinically r elevant if confirmed by further studies. (C) 1997 by the National Kidn ey Foundation, Inc.