Role of Dyslipidemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

The presence of dyslipidemia is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients and likely contributes to the development of both renal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that renal lipid accumulation is nephrotoxic and can play a role in the initiation and/or progression of renal disease. Data from clinical studies have suggested that dyslipidemia is not causative of renal disease but likely contributes to the progression and severity of renal injury in patients. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD, and there is extensive literature that supports the use of lipid-lowering agents to inhibit progression of CVD in patients with CKD. Thus, there is great potential for use of lipid-lowering agents to prevent or inhibit progression of CVD in patients with CKD, and, possibly, to limit progression of CKD for these patients as well. Our article reviews the literature identifying the role of dyslipidemia in the development and progression of renal disease in patients, and the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on the progression of renal disease and development and progression of CVD in patients with CKD.

Keywords:

• chronic kidney disease
• cholesterol
• cardiovascular disease
• statins
• lipid-lowering therapies