ABSTRACT

The kidney has several important functions including excretion of metabolic waste products, synthesis of hormones, degradation of peptides and low-molecular-weight proteins, and regulation of the composition of body fluids. Chronic renal failure patients have well-defined abnormalities in their plasma and to a lesser extent in their muscle amino acid profiles. Commonly, essential amino acid concentrations are low and nonessential amino acid concentrations are high. There are multiple factors associated with this abnormal profile. Dyslipidemia is quite common in renal failure patients and is often multifactorial. The presence of nephrotic syndrome or other co-morbidities, such as diabetes mellitus and liver disease, as well as the use of medications that alter lipid metabolism, all contribute to the dyslipidemia seen in renal failure. Cardiovascular death is the leading cause of mortality in chronic dialysis patients. Hypercholesterolemia and other certain abnormalities in the lipid profile have been associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events in the general population.