One approach to this problem may be to augment the endogenous systems for endotoxin inactivation. For example, it has been suggested that the various serum lipoprotein fractions may in fact be a physiologic "sink" for endotoxin (and other toxins) via binding with surface phospholipids. Therefore, dialysis patients, who as a population are characterized with hypocholesterolemia and hypolipoproteinemia, are particularly at risk for the deleterious effects of endotoxemia.