L-carnitine supplementation in the dialysis population: Are Australian patients missing out?

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dc.contributor.authorReuter, S.
dc.contributor.authorFaull, R.
dc.contributor.authorEvans, A.
dc.date.issued2008
dc.descriptionThe definitive version may be found at www.wiley.com
dc.description.abstractIt has been widely established that patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing chronic haemodialysis therapy exhibit low endogenous levels of L-carnitine and elevated acylcarnitine levels; however, the clinical implication of this altered carnitine profile is not as clear. It has been suggested that these disturbances in carnitine homeostasis may be associated with a number of clinical problems common in this patient population, including erythropoietin-resistant anaemia, cardiac dysfunction, and dialytic complications such as hypotension, cramps and fatigue. In January 2003, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (USA) implemented coverage of intravenous L-carnitine for the treatment of erythropoietin-resistant anaemia and/or intradialytic hypotension in patients with low endogenous L-carnitine concentrations. It has been estimated that in the period of 1998-2003, 3.8-7.2% of all haemodialysis patients in the USA received at least one dose of L-carnitine, with 2.7-5.2% of patients receiving at least 3 months of supplementation for one or both of these conditions. The use of L-carnitine within Australia is virtually non-existent, which leads us to the question: Are Australian haemodialysis patients missing out? This review examines the previous research associated with L-carnitine administration to chronic dialysis patients for the treatment of anaemia, cardiac dysfunction, dyslipidaemia and/or dialytic symptoms, and discusses whether supplementation is warranted within the Australian setting.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityStephanie E Reuter, Randall J Faull and Allan M Evans
dc.identifier.citationNephrology, 2008; 13(1):3-16
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1440-1797.2007.00817.x
dc.identifier.issn1320-5358
dc.identifier.issn1440-1797
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/53709
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Asia
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1797.2007.00817.x
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectKidney Failure, Chronic
dc.subjectAnemia
dc.subjectAscorbic Acid
dc.subjectVitamins
dc.subjectVitamin B Complex
dc.subjectCarnitine
dc.subjectTreatment Outcome
dc.subjectRenal Dialysis
dc.subjectPrevalence
dc.subjectFollow-Up Studies
dc.subjectSouth Australia
dc.subjectWestern Australia
dc.titleL-carnitine supplementation in the dialysis population: Are Australian patients missing out?
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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