Serum lipids and lipoproteins in acute renal failure.

Forty-five patients with various forms and phases of acute renal failure without or with haemodialysis treatment were investigated. The concentration of free fatty acids, triglycerides and total cholesterol in serum were determined and separation of lipoprotein classes on agarose gel was performed. Increase in free fatty acids and triglycerides, decrease in cholesterol concentration in serum characterised the anuric phase. The increase of prebeta fraction, the decrease of alpha and beta lipoprotein fraction were found in the oligoanuric phase. Decrease in triglyceride concentration was observed as a regular effect of haemodialysis. Decrease in prebeta and increase in beta lipoprotein fraction immediately after the termination of haemodialysis occurred. In the polyuric phase of acute renal failure there was significant decrease in free fatty acids and triglycerides and increase in cholesterol concentration in serum simultaneous with improvement of clinical signs. An increase in prebeta and decrease in beta lipoprotein fraction was noted in the convalescence phase, despite and opposite trend of serum triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations.