The Effect of L- Carnitine on Cardiac Output in Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease on Regular Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: L- carnitine deficiency is common in patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those
who are in regular dialysis. L- carnitine deficiency associated with high incidence of oxidative stress,
dyslipidemia and impaired cardiac performance. The present study tends to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine
supplement on cardiac output in patients with chronic kidney disease on regular hemodialysis.
Methods: the current study included 105 patients with chronic kidney disease, they were randomly selected
from patients attending artificial kidney unit at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Thiqar city for regular
hemodialysis. They were divided into two groups, group I include 35 patients with chronic kidney disease
who did not receive L- carnitine and considered as control group, group II include 70 patients with chronic
kidney disease who receive L- carnitine. patients of group II further divided into two subgroups depending on
dose of L- carnitine. Group II(A), include 35 patients with chronic kidney disease who received L- carnitine
10/kg body weight one time daily and group II(B): include 35 patients with chronic kidney disease who
received L- carnitine 10/kg body weight two time daily. Ejection fraction was determined by transthoracic
echocardiography. Frequency, percentage, association, paired t-test were used for analysis of variables. All
variables represented by mean ± SD. P value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: There was statistically significant increase in the mean of EF% (P<0.001) among patients with
chronic kidney disease who receive L- carnitine in a dose of 10mg/Kg body weight twice daily (group IIB)
after six months of treatment in comparison with the baseline values. There was a slight but significant (p<
0.05) increase in the mean of EF% in patients with chronic kidney disease who received single daily dose
of L- carnitine 10mg/Kg body weight (group IIA) after six months in comparison with the initial values at
the beginning of the study.

Conclusion: carnitine supplement in a suitable dose seem to improve cardiac performance among patients
with chronic kidney diseases on regular hemodialysis.