Comparison of hyperlipidemia in dialysis patients, renal transplant recipients, and steroid treated nonrenal patients.

Serum lipids were studied in 25 stable renal transplant recipients 3-60 months after transplantation, 25 stable patients maintained on hemodialysis, and 16 steroid-treated patients with normal renal functions. Lipid abnormalities were found in 72% of the transplant patients and 52% of dialysis patients. The mean serum triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the transplant and the dialysis group than age and sex matched controls, but were not significantly elevated in the steroid-treated patients with normal renal function. The mean cholesterol levels were normal for the transplant and steroid-treated groups, but significantly reduced in the dialysis group. There was a significant correlation between the triglyceride levels and the reciprocal of creatinine clearance suggestive of a possible etiologic relationship.