Evaluation of the effect of intravenous I-carnitine on quality of life in chronic hemodialysis patients

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 1-carnitine on qu ality of life (QOL) in chronic hemodialysis patients. Patients and methods: This trial used a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blin d, crossover design. Inclusion criteria were patients who were older than 1 8 years, had been on dialysis for a minimum of one year, and had at least t wo of the following symptoms: intradialytic hypotension, muscle cramping, l ack of energy, muscle weakness or myopathy, cardiomyopathy, or lack of resp onsiveness to erythropoietin (EPO). Patients were excluded if they were men tally incompetent to complete a QOL questionnaire. Sixteen patients were ra ndomized to receive either I-carnitine (20 mg/kg) or placebo (normal saline ) after each dialysis session for 12 weeks, followed by a 6-week washout, t hen the crossover therapy for 12 weeks. The Kidney Dialysis Questionnaire w as the assessment tool used to evaluate QOL. Results: There was no signific ant effect of 1-carnitine on QOL irrespective of treatment order. There wer e also no differences found in any of the secondary outcomes including inci dence of muscle cramping, intradialytic hypotension, EPO requirements or he moglobin. Adverse effects consisted of gastrointestinal symptoms, with a si milar incidence between I-carnitine and placebo. Conclusion: L-carnitine di d not have a benefit on QOL in our patient population.