L-carnitine treatment of anemia.
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and iron supplementation have had a profoundly positive impact on the anemia of patients with chronic kidney disease. However, a significant number of patients remain hyporesponsive to rHuEPO, with hemoglobin values less than target levels. A suboptimal response to rHuEPO is associated with complications that can reduce quality of life and increase morbidity, mortality, and costs. There are a number of other metabolic derangements associated with uremia that can impact on the production and survival of red blood cells. Dialysis-related carnitine disorder is a functional metabolic deficiency, common in chronic dialysis patients, that can have a negative impact on erythrocyte production and survival. This article reviews the role of L-carnitine in the pathogenesis and adjunctive treatment of anemia associated with kidney failure. After a comprehensive database search, primary and secondary reports were analyzed. Laboratory studies examining the influence of carnitine on red blood cell function and clinical trials of L-carnitine in dialysis patients support the use of L-carnitine in the setting of rHuEPO hyporesponsiveness. Consensus groups, including the National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI), consider the use of L-carnitine for hyporesponsive rHuEPO-dependent anemia a promising application of this therapy, recommending an empiric trial of L-carnitine in these patients.
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. thomas.golper@vanderbilt.edu
Thomas A
TA
Golper
Simin
S
Goral
Bryan N
BN
Becker
Craig B
CB
Langman
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects
D002331:Carnitine