Serum Lipid Profile and Plasma Fatty Acids Levels in Hemodialysis Pediatric Patients-Possible Deficiency of Essential Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are reported to be associated with atherosclerotic and inflammatory diseases because they are the major components of the cytoplasmic membrane and are the precursor fatty acids for prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Aim of this study was to identify PUFA profile (PUFAp) in children with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD). And study its relationship with known cardiovascular and arteriosclerotic risk factors. We examined 44 pediatric HD patients (mean age 11 ± 3.36 years). Plasma lipid profile, plasma fatty acid pattern, serum albumin and hemoglobin were studied in these children. Triglyceride levels were increased in the plasma of ESRD patients compared to the healthy subjects. Plasma PUFA decreased whereas behanic acid (saturated fatty acid) increased in ESRD patients. A lower level of eicosapentaenoic acid was revealed in HD patients with cardiomyopathy (HD-CAD) than those without cardiovascular disease(HD-norm) (0.20 ± 0.01 μ/mL vs. 0.88 ± 0.12 μ/mL, P = 0.01). An inverse correlation was found between the linoleic acid level and serum TG level in children on HD (r = −0.54, P = 0.03). A positive correlation was found between plasma arachidonic acid level and serum albumin (r = 0.86, P = 0.003). A significant positive correlation was revealed between plasma eicosapentaenoic acid concentration and serum hemoglobin level (r = −0.64, P = 0.04). Saturated acid was negatively correlated with serum albumin (r = −0.70, P = 0.03). Children under regular hemodialysis evidence significant abnormalities in serum fatty acid levels together with triglyceride abnormalities, a finding that might be relevant to the risk of cardiovascular disease in this setting.