Ha. Al-madani et al., Impact of haemodialysis membranes on human serum total, free, short-chain acyl and long-chain acyl carnitine concentrations, MED SCI RES, 27(7), 1999, pp. 485-488
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.