Plasma lipids and coronary heart disease in renal failure

Abstract

One must ask whether therapeutic intervention makes any difference to the natural history of the arterial disease in the population groups studied. This is not yet known, and may indeed require randomized prospective trials. We do know, however, that assiduous management of hyperlipoproteinemia in nonrenal patients may help reverse atherosclerotic arterial lesions. One should hope that this can also be achieved in the renal patient, by using safe and potentially effective measures such as dietary manipulation, regular exercise, amelioration of other risk factors, and possibly clofibrate.