Cholesterol content of serum lipoprotein fractions in children maintained on chronic hemodialysis.

Lipoprotein analyses were performed on serum samples from nine hemodialyzed children, 8 to 18 years old, and from nine pair-matched control children. Cholesterol was measured by gas-liquid chromatography in lipoprotein fractions separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Total serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels were higher in the hemodialyzed group. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was higher. The increase of low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and the decrease of high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration were not significant, but the ratio of the low density lipoprotein cholesterol to the high density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased. These results outline the potential risk of premature atherosclerosis in uremic children on maintenance hemodialysis. In addition, lipoprotein cholesterol reference values are presented from a group of 113 healthy children.