The influence of several factors that intervene in hemodialysis on serum levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids

Abstract

The effect of the administration of heparin and glucose, in doses and sequence similar to those of hemodialysis, on serum free fatty acids and triglycerides, was studied in eight patients with chronic renal failure who had not undergone hemodialysis. The results are compared with the action exerted by hemodialysis on the same parameters. During hemodialysis, the values of triglycerides are not significantly different from those obtained at similar intervals after the administration of glucose and/or heparin, with the exception that the values obtained five hours after beginning hemodialysis are lower than those obtained five hours after the administration of glucose (P less than 0.005). The levels of free fatty acids obtained during hemodialysis are higher (P less than 0.005) than those found during the other tests. The possible origin of these high fatty acid values is discussed, and the possibility that they originate from the acetate in the dialysis liquid is suggested.