Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims Dyslipidemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related events are the main causes of death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. Concerning lipid management, clinical practice emphasized treatment escalation to achieve specific low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) targets, which implies repeated LDLc evaluations, and enhancement of statin doses or combination of lipid-lowering therapies. However, the LDLc target is not consensual, with some entities suggesting 100 mg/dl and others a more conservative level. It has been hypothesized that lipoprotein’s quality (size, composition and functionality) may be more important than their total circulating levels, as CVD risk factor. Our aim was to evaluate and compare, in ESRD patients on dialysis and under statins treatment, the levels of lipoprotein fractions and subfractions and inflammatory markers, between patients who achieved LDLc levels < 100 mg/dl and those who did not achieve that target. Method We studied 110 ESRD patients on dialysis (high-flux hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration) and under statin therapy; 87 presented a LDLc < 100 mg/dl (group 1) and 23 a value > 100 mg/dl (group 2); levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin(IL)-6, lipid profile including lipoprotein fractions/subfractions, and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) were evaluated. Results Group 1, as compared to group 2, presented lower values of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, oxLDL, TC/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and LDLc/HDLc ratios. Concerning lipoprotein fractions/subfractions, group 1 presented significantly higher larger and intermediate LDL, and a trend towards lower small LDL (P=0.063), higher large HDL (P=0.069) and lower small HDL (P=0.080); no significant alterations were found for very-low-density lipoprotein and intermediate-density lipoprotein. Regarding inflammatory markers, no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups. Conclusion Patients who achieved the LDLc < 100 mg/dl target presented a better non-conventional lipid profile, including lower oxLDL levels and an increase in larger (less atherogenic) LDL subfractions. According to our data, a lower LDLc level associates with a better lipid profile; the benefits of this improvement on HDL fractions and CVD-related events in ESRD patients on dialysis needs to be better clarified.

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