BACKGROUND: Impaired structural and metabolic integrity of the kidney in chronic renal failure (CRF) effects carnitine metabolism by means of many factors. Depletion due to hemodialysis (HD) is one of the major concerns. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of chronic renal failure and HD on plasma free carnitine (FC) concentrations in children. METHODS: Plasma FC concentrations were measured in age-matched 14 undialyzed patients, 20 dialyzed patients and 12 healthy children. In the HD group, measurements were done pre- and postdialysis and an hour after ceasing HD. None of the children have been receiving exogenous l-carnitine replacement. RESULTS: Plasma FC concentrations on either HD or conservative treatment were found to be decreased as compared to the healthy subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). The patients on HD had lower levels of plasma FC at the predialysis period than those on conservative treatment (P = 0.01). The FC levels significantly dropped at the postdialysis period as compared to those at the predialysis period (P < 0.001), but recovered at 1 h after ceasing HD. The mean duration of HD did not correlate with plasma FC levels at predialysis period. CONCLUSIONS: Children with CRF, either dialyzed or undialyzed, have decreased plasma FC levels. Hemo-dialysis treatment significantly depletes plasma FC concentrations during the procedure, but predialysis levels are reached 1 hr after ceasing HD.
BACKGROUND: Impaired structural and metabolic integrity of the kidney in chronic renal failure (CRF) effects carnitine metabolism by means of many factors. Depletion due to hemodialysis (HD) is one of the major concerns. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of chronic renal failure and HD on plasma free carnitine (FC) concentrations in children. METHODS: Plasma FC concentrations were measured in age-matched 14 undialyzed patients, 20 dialyzed patients and 12 healthy children. In the HD group, measurements were done pre- and postdialysis and an hour after ceasing HD. None of the children have been receiving exogenous l-carnitine replacement. RESULTS: Plasma FC concentrations on either HD or conservative treatment were found to be decreased as compared to the healthy subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). The patients on HD had lower levels of plasma FC at the predialysis period than those on conservative treatment (P = 0.01). The FC levels significantly dropped at the postdialysis period as compared to those at the predialysis period (P < 0.001), but recovered at 1 h after ceasing HD. The mean duration of HD did not correlate with plasma FC levels at predialysis period. CONCLUSIONS:Children with CRF, either dialyzed or undialyzed, have decreased plasma FC levels. Hemo-dialysis treatment significantly depletes plasma FC concentrations during the procedure, but predialysis levels are reached 1 hr after ceasing HD.