Relationship between serum carnitine and glomerular filtration rate in patients with chronic renal disease.

摘要

In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between serum carnitine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with chronic renal disease. Total, free and acyl carnitine concentrations were measured in twenty-eight chronic renal disease (CRD) patients, twenty-one maintenance hemodialysis (MED) patients, five chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) and eight controls. MHD patients showed a decrease in total and free carnitine while, acylcarnitine was increased compared to controls. CPD patients demonstrated a decrease in serum free carnitine while, CRD patients showed no differences in the serum carnitines compared to controls. GFR was 60% lower in CRD patients compared to controls (GFR of dialysis patients were estimated to be 0). A significant correlation was found between GFR and serum total, free and acyl carnitine concentrations. These findings suggest serum total carnitine and free carnitine are normal in individuals with CRD, but serum free carnitine is reduced when these individuals undergo dialysis.