Title: Effect of L-Carnitine on Anemia in Hemodialysis Patients Treated with rhEPO
Abstract: Objective To demonstrate whether L-carnitine treatment could further improve anemia in dialyzed patients under recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO)therapy. Methods Sixty-two maintenance hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into two groups:control group(n=30), treatment group(n=32). In the control group,rhEPO 50~150 IU/kg was subcutaneously injected once or twice a week;treatment group,L-carnitine 1.0 g was intravenously infused after dialysis twice a week together with rhEPO. The serum albumin,hemoglobin (Hb)and hematocrit (Hct)were monitored for three months. Results The Hb,Hct and albumin values in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P0.01);the dosage of rhEPO in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P0.01). The morbidity of EPO-induced hypertension was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (11% vs. 33%) (P0.05). Conclusion L-carnitine could further improve rhEPO therapy and correct anemia in patients with chronic renal failure. The dosage of rhEPO in patients with L-carnitine given simultaneously can be largely reduced.The morbidity of rhEPO-induced hypertension is lowered down.
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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