Serum-cholesterol-binding reserve in patients with the nephrotic syndrome.

Hyperlipidemia and premature atherosclerosis are known metabolic complications in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. In this study, we have measured serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and serum-cholesterol-binding reserve (SCBR) in 22 patients (14 men, 8 women) with the nephrotic syndrome and in 21 hyperlipidemic men who served as control subjects. Serum cholesterol levels were higher (p less than 0.005) in patients when compared to those of controls while triglyceride levels did not differ significantly between the groups. SCBR levels were lower (p less than 0.001) in the nephrotic subjects. The abnormally low SCBR values may be an important risk factor for atheroclerosis as suggested by previous studies in patients surviving premature myocardial infarction.