title: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) adequacy influences serum free carnitine level.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An evaluation of serum free carnitine level in CAPD patients in relation to dietary intake, nutritional status and CAPD adequacy and duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Food diaries, nutritional (total body mass, lean body mass, serum level of proteins, carnitine, cholesterol) and adequacy (Kt/V, PCR, tCcr, EN) parameters were obtained in 23 CAPD patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal carnitine level (41.8+/-6.7 micromol/l) was found in 17 patients being on CAPD through 11.1+/-9.6 months, whereas in 6 persons treated with CAPD through 9.7+/-4.1 months carnitine level was 25.4+/-5.7 micromol/l. Significant differences between low and normal carnitine groups were in tCcr (82.7+/-16.7 v. 65.9+/-13.2 l/wk/1.73 m2 BSA), effluent volume (10.9+/-0.8 v. 9.9+/-1.5 l/day), effluent glucose concentration (729+/-167 v. 530+/-220 mg/dl) and serum globulin level (22.6+/-6.4 v. 29.3+/-4.4 g/l). Significant correlation coefficients (for n = 23) were found between serum carnitine level and effluent volume (r=-0.509) or plasma globulin level (r=+0.522).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with higher CAPD adequacy show lower serum free carnitine levels and this is related to higher effluent volumes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Grzegorzewska
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mariak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrowolska-Zachwieja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine; D002331:Carnitine