Vascular function of the peripheral circulation in patients with nephrosis

Abstract

Background. Nephrotic syndrome is associated with abnormal lipoprotein metabolism and increased risk of coronary heart disease. Endothelial dysfunction, an early phase of atherogenesis that manifests as impaired flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the peripheral circulation, may link these associations. Methods. We examined endothelial function of the brachial artery and forearm resistance arteries in 15 patients with nephrosis (NP), 15 patients with primary hyperlipidemia (HL) alone, and 15 normolipidemic, nonproteinuric subjects (NC) matched for age, sex, and weight. The NP and HL groups had similar serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Postischemic FMD (endothelium-dependent) and..