Effects of L-carnitine on maintenance hemodialysis patients with dialysis-related hypotension

Objectives To investigate whether the supplementation of L-carnitine to conventional therapy might improve dialysis-related hypotension. Methods Nineteen patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) for more than 25 months were enrolled. L-carnitine 1.0g intravenously infusion was given after every hemodialysis session. The duration of this observational study was 24 weeks. The changes of blood pressure before hemodialysis,the peak blood pressure during hemodialysis and the occurrence of dialysis-related hypotension were compared before and after the intervention. Meanwhile,the changes of blood tests including serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),albumin(Alb),hemoglobin(Hb),concentration of K,Na,Ca,P,volume of dehydration and bodyweight after hemodialysis were recorded and analyzed. Results After 24 weeks of treatment,the blood tests did not have significant changes. The blood pressure improved significantly(P 0.05) and reached homeostasis in 12 weeks. The occurrence of hypotension during hemodialysis decreased significantly(P 0.01) in 12 weeks. Volume of dehydration increased after 12 weeks and bodyweight after hemodialysis decreased after 12 weeks,but the changes were all insignificant(P 0.05). Conclusions Supplementation of L-carnitine can effectively improve the dialysis-reduced hypotention and has no effect on short-term renal function,albumin,electrolytes,hemoglobin,volume of dehydration and bodyweight after hemodialysis.