Characterization of the individual phospholipids and their fatty acids in serum and high-density lipoprotein of the renal patient on long-term maintenance hemodialysis.

This study characterized the individual phospholipids within total serum and HDL in the renal patient on long-term maintenance hemodialysis relative to matched controls. The fatty acid composition of these individual phospholipids was also determined by using TLC and gas-liquid chromatography in combination. In agreement with previous findings, our patient group had HDL-cholesterol levels 36% below and total phospholipid levels 30% lower than matched controls. Total serum PE but not HDL-PE was significantly elevated (by 30%) in the serum of the patient group due to a rise in diacyl PE. Significantly reduced HDL-SPH levels (by 41%) and a 31% decrease in HDL-PC levels were noted in the patient group. Considerable differences in the individual fatty acids (as weight percent) of the patient vs. control groups were observed. The percent of 16:0 (palmitate) and 18:0 (stearate) was significantly elevated in the PE of the patient group whereas 18:1 (octadecenoate) was generally elevated in all phospholipids. The weight percent of 18:2 (linoleate) was moderately higher in the PE and Pl of the patient group. Absolute levels of selected fatty acids in PC were generally depressed in the patient HDL relative to control, although significantly so only in the case of 16:0 and 20:4 (arachidonate). In keeping with the total PE levels in whole serum, all fatty acids were elevated in the patient group relative to controls. These results indicate that alterations in certain individual phospholipids and their fatty acids exist in renal patients on dialysis compared to matched controls.