Uremic hyperlipoproteinemia: correlation with residual renal function and duration of maintenance hemodialysis.

Our study indicates that in renal failure elevated plasma triglyceride can first be detected when the GFR falls to 50 ml/min. Hypertriglyceridemia is the commonest abnormality found and increases further when the GFR falls below 10 ml/min. Plasma cholesterol levels remain normal even at low levels of renal function. Although plasma growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin levels become elevated when renal function diminishes, there is no definite correlation of their levels and GFR. A decreased incidence of hyperlipidemia observed in patients sustained by maintenance hemodialysis for over 5 yrs may in part be due to the triglyceride lowering effect of growth hormone and glucagon and/or the cholesterol lowering effect of insulin.