title: [L-carnitine therapy and myocardial function in children treated with chronic hemodialysis].
abstract: Six out of 14 chronically hemodialysed children with significantly decreased serum carnitine levels were substituted with L-carnitine (15-30 mg/kg/day-Biocarn) up to normal and above normal carnitine levels. None of these patients were digitalised. During the time of investigation plasma carnitine levels were investigated monthly and, simultaneously, three echocardiographic parameters in M-mode were quantitatively und qualitatively determined: shortening fraction (SF-%), ratio of left ventricular pre-ejection/ejection time (LVPT/LVET) and velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcf). Carnitine substitution produced measurable changes in echocardiographic parameters, and a significant quantitative improvement in left ventricular function and performance: after 6 months of carnitine substitution a 24% improvement was seen, after 18 months a 44% mean improvement. No side effects of carnitine were observed; the compatibility was good. Beside these positive effects all patients reported decreased dialysis-associated spasms and polyneuropathic symptoms and increased somatic ability.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Wien.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Khoss
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legenstein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Proll
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Salzer-Muhar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balzar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wimmer
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000628:therapy*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine
vernacular_title: L-Carnitintherapie und Myokardfunktion bei chronisch hämodialysierten Kindern.