Impact of Hemodialysis on Plasma Carnitine Levels in Patients With End Stage Renal Disease

.ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Dialysis therapy can cause a decrease in both free carnitine and plasma acyl carnitines after only six months of dialysis treatment. A positive correlation between AC/FC ratio and months on HD therapy has been reported. We investigate in this study the role of oral L-carnitine supplementation on anemia, blood pressure, cardiac dysfunction and muscle cramps in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVES

• To assess the levels of plasma carnitine in controls and hemodialysis patients.
• To give supplementary L-carnitine to study subjects for a duration of 5months.
• To compare the values of plasma carnitine before and after L carnitine supplementation.
• To assess the role of carnitine supplementation on biochemical and clinical parameters.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: It will be a case-control study, which will be conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi in collaboration with Nephrology ward of JPMC, Karachi in a period of one year after approval of synopsis.

METHOD: Total 120 subjects will be included in this study which will be divided into two groups. Group A will comprise of 60 subjects of Chronic renal failure who will be the control group. Group B will comprise of 60 subjects who will be on hemodialysis for more than 1 year. Blood samples will be taken after informed consent. Group B subjects will be given L-Carnitine supplementation for five months under strict monitoring. Physical, biochemical and clinical parameters of group B subjects will be compared before and after supplementation.