Adipose tissue fatty acid composition, serum lipid profile, and dietary intake of 37 patients on maintenance hemodialysis were studied. In August 1982, 1984, and 1986, analyses were carried out in 15 normotriglyceridemic (NTG) and 22 hypertriglyceridemic (HTG; type IV hyperlipidemia) patients. No correlations were found between dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P-S ratio), and carbohydrate content on the one hand and serum lipid concentrations on the other in the two groups. Adipose tissue linolenic acid correlated negatively with serum cholesterol in both groups. Strong correlations were found between dietary intake of PUFAs and adipose tissue linoleic acid content, between PUFAs and the double-bond index, between P-S ratio and adipose tissue linoleic acid content, and between P-S ratio and the double-bond index. No significant differences in dietary intake or adipose tissue fatty acid composition were observed between NTG and HTG patients. Thus, no evidence was found for exogenous dietary influences on serum lipid concentrations. The adipose tissue linoleic acid content did reflect the dietary intake of PUFAs.

In a double blind study 8 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension received in random order single oral doses of placebo and 10, 30 and 80 mg Ro 23-6152, a novel calcium entry blocker, on 4 different days. Patients were assessed 15 min before dosing and at several time intervals over the following 6 h. Ro 23-6152 30 and 80 mg induced a significant decrease (mean maximum 7 mmHg.1-1.min-1) in total peripheral resistance, while cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate were slightly increased (mean maximum 0.51.min-1, 10 ml, 5 beats.min-1, respectively) but not significantly so. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly (5 to 10 mmHg) from 0.5 to 6 h after the 80 mg dose. After the 10 and 30 mg doses the decreases in systolic pressure were not significant. Diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were non-significantly decreased (mean maximum 7 mmHg) after all doses. The PQ interval was also non-significantly increased by no more than 20 ms. It appears that the main hemodynamic effect of Ro 23-6152 in hypertensive patients is a decrease in peripheral resistance. The antihypertensive effect, at least in this short term study, was only modest, probably because the fall in peripheral resistance was partly compensated by an increase in cardiac output.