In nephrotic syndrome, hyperlipidemia increases the risk of which cardiovascular complication?

• A. Accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease risk
• B. Hypotension
• C. Hypolipidemia
• D. Increased infection risk

Answer: (A)

Nephrotic syndrome often leads to significant hyperlipidemia because loss of albumin lowers oncotic pressure, which signals the liver to ramp up production of lipoproteins. This rise in circulating cholesterol and triglycerides promotes the development of atherosclerotic plaques, increasing the risk of accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease over time. That connection between lipid abnormalities and arterial plaque formation is why this cardiovascular complication is the best answer.

Other choices don’t fit as the primary cardiovascular consequence of the lipid changes. Hypotension isn’t a direct result of hyperlipidemia in nephrotic syndrome; it would more likely come from fluid imbalance. Hypolipidemia is the opposite of what occurs—the syndrome features high lipid levels. Increased infection risk is a known complication of nephrotic syndrome due to loss of immunoglobulins in the urine, not a cardiovascular consequence of the lipid abnormality.