[Disordered lipid metabolism and the morphofunctional instability of the erythrocyte membranes in patients with terminal kidney failure].

Fifty-two patients with terminal renal failure (TRF) placed on elective hemodialysis were examined for serum lipids and red blood cell membranes with the aid of chromatographic separation of lipids in thin-layer silica gel on Silufol plates followed by densitometry. Spectrocytophotometry was employed to study red blood cell distribution on the basis of the content of lipoproteins in TRF patients. Fluidity of the lipid bilayer of the red blood cell membrane was measured on Hitachi spectrofluorimeter according to the degree of eximerization of fluorescent pyrene. Dyslipidemia manifested itself as hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia and hyperphosphatidylcholinemia. The lipid profile of the red blood cell membranes was found to be deranged, which was evidenced by the reduced content of lipoproteins, total phospholipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters. In addition, there was a significant rise in the content of free cholesterol, lysolecithin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Impairment of lipid exchange between blood serum and the red blood cell membrane in TRF patients is under discussion. The changes in the lipid spectrum of the red blood cell membranes mirror their morphofunctional failure, supported by derangement of fluidity of the lipid bilayer of the red blood cell membrane. Both increase of viscosity of the lipid bilayer of the red blood cell membrane caused by a high level of cholesterol in the membrane and changes in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and reduction of the lipid bilayer viscosity related to the rise of the content of membrane lysolecithin in part of TRF patients were discovered. Hemodialysis influenced the lipid content of blood serum, producing no effect on the lipid spectrum of the red blood cells membrane.