Effect of L-carnitine therapy on quality of life of uremic hemodialysis patients

Objective To study the effect of intravenous L-carnitine on quality of life of hemodialysis patients.Methods Fifty-eight patients accepting maintenance hemodialysis in the blood purification center were randomly divided into two groups:treatment group(n=29),control group(n=29).In treatment group,20 mg/kg of L-carnitine was infused to the patients at the end of each dialysis treatment for 12 weeks,while normal saline was given to the control group.All patients' self-assessment of quality of life was measured with the Short-Form 36 questionnaire before and at 12 weeks after the start of L-carnitine treatment.Results The quality of life,hemoglobin,and nutritional index of treatment group patients were elevated significantly after therapy but not observed in placebo group.Scores of treatment group in physical function,role-physical,bodily pain,vitality,social function,general health before treatment vs after treatment were respectively(56.6)±(10.3) vs(67.8)±(11.1);(32.6)±(10.7) vs(44.9)±(10.1);(61.4)±(11.2) vs(74.5)±(10.8);(51.5)±(11.0) vs(62.7)±(10.5);(63.4)±(12.1) vs(69.9)±(11.5);(46.7)±(7.7) vs(58.3)±(9.5),while those in control group were respectively(54.9)±(10.7) vs(55.4)±(9.4);(34.1)±(6.2) vs(32.8)±(9.4);(61.3)±(7.6) vs(61.1)±(8.6);(52.1)±(9.1) vs(51.9)±(9.5);(61.3)±(11.8) vs(60.4)±(9.5);(45.3)±(7.3) vs(47.9)±(6.9).The differences of these items' scores between two groups after treatment were significant(P(0.05) or P(0.01)).Conclusion Intravenous L-carnitine at the end of each dialysis efficiently improves quality of life of uremia hemodialysis patients.