Hypertriglyceridemia

Abstract

Basal plasma triglyceride concentrations were supranormal in 13 undialyzed (164 ± 62 mg per 100 ml, mean ± S.D.) and 25 dialyzed (276 ± 250 mg per 100 ml) patients with non-nephrotic uremia. Basal immunoreactive insulin levels of both uremic groups were also higher than in nonuremic subjects of the same weight. In the dialyzed group triglyceride and immunoreactive insulin were directly related (r = 0.58, p<0.02), a relation suggesting that increased hepatic synthesis of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein may contribute to triglyceride elevation in uremia. In addition, peak postheparin lipolytic activity, an indirect estimate of tissue lipoprotein lipase and triglyceride removal capacity, was subnormal in both dialyzed and undialyzed uremic subjects. Hypertriglyceridemia appears to be a previously unrecognized consequence of non-nephrotic uremia. Alterations in both triglyceride production and assimilation may contribute to this abnormality.