Use of Lipid-Modifying Agents for the Treatment of Glomerular Diseases

Although dyslipidemia is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), it is more common in nephrotic syndrome (NS), and guidelines for the management of hyperlipidemia in NS are largely opinion-based. In addition to the role of circulating lipids, an increasing number of studies suggest that intrarenal lipids contribute to the progression of glomerular diseases, indicating that proteinuric kidney diseases may be a form of “fatty kidney disease” and that reducing intracellular lipids could represent a new therapeutic approach to slow the progression of CKD. In this review, we summarize recent progress made in the utilization of lipid-modifying agents to lower renal parenchymal lipid accumulation and to prevent or reduce kidney injury. The agents mentioned in this review are categorized according to their specific targets, but they may also regulate other lipid-relevant pathways.