INFLUENCE OF L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON REGULATION OF ANEMIA AND INTRADIALYTIC HYPOTENSION OF PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS - OUR EXPERIENCES

Abstract

Introduction: One of the most convincing therapeutic effects of L-carnitine is an improvement of uremic anemia, and positive effect on intradialytic hypotension. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of L-carnitine therapy on anemia and hypotension in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: Study organized as a single-center, observational investigation, during the three month, in Clinic of Nephrology and Dialysis, University Clinical Center Kragujevac, Serbia. Study it's included eleven hemodialysis patients, received L-carnitine intravenously (20 mg/kg/body weight), bolus at the end of each dialysis. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in creatinine concentration (932.9±192.6 μmol/L vs. 772.7±213.9 μmol/L; p=0.001), and average values of diastolic blood pressure (58.6±14.2 mmHg v.s. 69.1±9.4 mmHg; p=0.042) before and after L-carnitine supplementation therapy. It has been determined a significant positive correlation between L-carnitine dose and total iron binding capacity after therapy (rho 0.691; p=0.019). The age of the subjects was negatively correlated with the dose of L-carnitine (rho-0.768; p=0.006). Conclusions: In the our patients we determined increase in the value of total iron binding capacity, with higher doses of L-carnitine, as well as significant increase of diastolic blood pressure and decrease in creatinine levels. Our elderly patients received lower doses of L-carnitine.