Effects of infusions of serum albumin on serum lipids and lipoproteins in nephrosis.

Serum lipid and lipoprotein alterations in nephrosis were discussed in detail in a previous report (1). It was found that there were qualitative as well as quantitative differences in lipoproteins from one patient to another. Despite the differences in lipoprotein pattern, concentrations of serum cholesterol and phospholipids were related inversely to concentrations of serum albumin in a fairly regular manner. Triglycerides were consistently increased only when serum albumin fell below levels of about 1 g per 100 ml. These and other (2) observations suggest that hyperlipoproteinemia in nephrosis may be at least in part a result of hypoalbuminemia. In order to study the effects on serum lipoproteins of altering the level of serum albumin without altering the disease, repeated infusions of serum albumin were administered to patients with nephrosis. Serum lipids and lipoproteins decreased as a result of the infusions. The decreases often were selective, involving principally the particular fractions which were most excessive at the beginning of the infusions. Changes in lipids and lipoproteins during infusions of dextran, and during steroid-induced remissions of the disease, were studied in several patients for comparison with the albumin results.