Increased frequency of late pre‐β lipoproteins (LP β) in isolated serum very low density lipoproteins in uraemia

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Abstract
Hypertriglyceridemia, which is caused by raised levels of the triglyceride rich serum very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), is common in uremia. Qualitative studies on VLDL in this condition are reported. VLDL were isolated from serum of 137 uremic patients by ultracentrifugation, subjected to agarose electrophoresis and stained for lipids. An increased frequency of presence of electrophoretically slow migrating, discrete VLDL band, the so-called late pre-.beta. lipoproteins, LP.beta., was found, 76% in uremia vs. 30% in controls. Patients on hemodialysis had a higher frequency of LP.beta. than those not on dialysis, 94% vs. 69%. The cholesterol/triglyceride ratio of VLDL was raised by .apprx. 30% in uremia. Since the cholesterol LP.beta. is believed to represent an end stage of the catabolism of VLDL, there may be a delayed clearance of VLDL remnants in uremia. In hemodialysis patients, heparin might have contributed to the higher frequency of LP.beta.