EFFECT OF ORAL L-CARNITINE ON SERUM MYOGLOBIN IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

Oral L-carnitine has been reported to lower the elevated serum myoglob in of renal failure in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients, and intra venous r-carnitine can improve muscle fatigue and cramps in chronic he modialysis patients. In this study oral L-carnitine, 1.98 g/day, was a dministered to 6 chronic hemodialysis patients for 8 weeks. Serum leve ls of myoglobin, creatine kinase, and aldolase, as well as skeletal mu scle symptoms (cramps during dialysis, fatigue, and weakness) were mon itored biweekly for 12 weeks. Mean baseline serum myoglobin level was 337 +/- 34 ng/mL. By 6 and 8 weeks mean serum myoglobin was 234 +/- 39 and 233 +/- 40 ng/mL, significantly lower by the Friedman test (p < 0 .05). Four weeks after carnitine was discontinued, mean serum myoglobi n had risen to 320 +/- 118 ng/mL. Serum creatine kinase and aldolase l evels were normal throughout the study: All 6 patients noted improveme nt in muscular symptoms, with maximal effect at 8 weeks, although 2 pa tients did not improve until 2 to 4 weeks after carnitine was stopped. We conclude that oral L-carnitine may lower serum myoglobin and impro ve muscle cramps and weakness in hemodialysis patients. The maximal ef fect of carnitine on myoglobin occurs 2 weeks before the maximal impro vement in muscular symptoms.