| Theme | Dialysis Therapy and Carnitine | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Renal anemia and carnitine | |
| Publish Date | 2000/02 | |
| Author | Jun Niwayama | Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University Dai-ni Hospital |
| Author | Tsutomu Sanaka | Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University Dai-ni Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | Carnitine plays an important roll in heart and skeletal muscle energy metabolism, as a carrier of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, for oxidation. Deficiencies in carnitine are not present before the institution of dialysis. These deficiencies might be due to excessive losses of carnitine during diclyss, decreased endogenous biosynthesis of carnitine, or decreased intake of meat and dairy products by the uremic patient. In patients undergoing hemodialysis, serum carnitine deficiencies were reduced as was the relation of serum total-carnitine levels (acylcarnitine estero) and maintenance rhEPO dosages. We suggested that deficiencies in carnitine levels were causing bone-morrow suppression. Trials of L-carnitine supplementation in patients with anemia of rhEPO resiatance, demonstrated increases in hematocrit. The results of this study suggest this L-carnitine substitution improves response to rhEPO treatment, also that rh-EPO dosages could be reduced by half, and that it is effective in patients with anemia associated with of rh-EPO resistance. |
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