Carnitine status in renal dialysis patients

Using a radioenzymatic assay, the plasma concentrations of acetyl (AC), free (FC), and total (TC) carnitine were measured in three groups of 20 subjects: group 1. long tern hemodialysis patients receiving IV carnitine for at least 6 months; group 2. long term hemodialysis patients; group 3. non-dialyzed subjects. Group AC FC TC AC/acylC nmol/ml nmol/ml nmol/ml % (SD) (SD) (SD) (SD) 1.116.6(76.4) 216.7(92.8) 383.2(164.3) 66.2(13.6) 2. 6.3(2.2) 24.4(12.3) 40.2(15.6) 36.4(7.6) 3. 7.0(3.2) 36.7(10.2) 47.8(13.1) 62.8(8.4) These data indicate that carnitine treatment results in an increase total plasma carnitine. The acyl/free carnitine ratio increases in dialysis subject. In contrast, the AC/acylc ratio decreased however carnitine treatment return this ratio to that found in the controls.