Impact of haemodialysis membranes on human serum total, free, short-chain acyl and long-chain acyl carnitine concentrations

We have investigated the effect of haemodialysis membranes on the levels of serum total (TC), free (FC), short- (SC), long-chain acyl (LC) and acyl (A C) carnitine, as well as the ratio of AC to FC in 36 patients (24 males and 12 females) with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) who were undergoing regu lar chronic haemodialysis (HD). 18 patients (12 males and six females) used cellulose acetate membrane and the remainder (12 males and six females) po lysulfone membrane. The mean pre-dialysis serum levels of TC, FC, SC, LC an d AC and the ratio of AC to FC were not significantly different from those in the healthy controls (P>0.05). However, after HD with cellulose acetate or polysulfone membranes, serum levels of TC, FC, SC, LC and AC were signif icantly lower as compared to either predialysis levels or those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Furthermore, the ratio of AC to FC was significantly hig her than before dialysis or in healthy controls (P < 0.01). There were vari ations, related to the type of haemodialysis membrane, in serum levels of c arnitine and in the ratio of FC to AC. During chronic HD there were no sign ificant differences in serum levels of FC or LC in the case of polysulfone membrane whereas serum levels of SC, AC, TC and the ratio of FC to AC were significantly lower as compared to those in patients using cellulose membra ne (P<0.01). These changes may be due to the performance characteristics an d/or physical parameters of the membranes. Med Sci Res 27:485-488 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams sc Wilkins.