L-carnitine and platelet aggregation in uremic patients subjected to hemodialysis.
It has been reported that treatment with L-carnitine at a daily dose of 3 g orally may cause a rise in platelet aggregation and serum triglyceride concentration in hemodialyzed patients. The present double-blind cross-over study has been performed to evaluate the influence of L-carnitine when compared with placebo on platelet aggregation and plasma concentrations of various factors involved in platelet activation. In addition, the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol has been evaluated. 18 uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 1 year were randomly allocated either to a control group receiving placebo or to a group treated with L-carnitine. Statistical analysis performed by means of ANOVA did not show any significant change in the serum concentration of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Furthermore, platelet aggregation tests (performed with adenosine 5'-diphosphate, epinephrine, thrombin and collagen) and plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentration did not show any statistically significant difference. In addition, the plasma concentration of several coagulation markers, such as factor VIIIc, antithrombin III, alpha 2-antiplasmin, and fibrinopeptide A, did not show any significant variation. The results suggest that under our experimental conditions L-carnitine neither increases the risk of thromboembolism nor alters the serum lipid content in uremic patients on chronic hemodialysis.
Bellinghieri
G
G
Cattedra di Nefrologia, Università di Messina, Italy.
Savica
V
V
Barbera
C M
CM
Ricciardi
B
B
Egitto
M
M
Torre
F
F
Valentini
G
G
D'Iddio
S
S
Bagiella
E
E
Mallamace
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
D008055:Lipids; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D002331:Carnitine