Lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins A-I and B and apolipoprotein losses in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Comparison of lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels was made between 3 groups: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients (n = 5); haemodialysis patients (n = 15) and normals (n = 31). Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients showed significantly elevated total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apo B) levels compared with haemodialysis and normal groups. Both CAPD and haemodialysis (HD) showed reduced levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I). Measurement of apo A-I and apo B in dialysate during a 6 h CAPD session indicated significant losses of apo A-I to dialysate with negligible losses of apo B. Grossly elevated apo B and reduced apo A-I indicates that CAPD patients are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and that their risk is probably greater than for haemodialysis patients.