Effects Of L-Carnitine Supplement On Plasma Coagulation And Anticoagulation Factors In Hemodialysis Patients

• Main Authors: Fariba Hakeshzadeh, Hadi Tabibi, Minoo Ahmadinejad, Tahereh Malakoutian, Mehdi Hedayati
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Nephrology 2012-06-01
• Series: Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221191321200424X

Hypercoagulability is an important risk factor for thrombosis and its complications in hemodialysis patients. This study was designed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplement on plasma coagulation and anticoagulation factors in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Thirty-six hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to either a carnitine or a placebo group. Patients in the carnitine group received 1000 mg/day oral L-carnitine for12 weeks, whereas patients in the placebo group received a corresponding placebo. At baseline and the end of week12, 5 mL blood was collected after a 12- to 14-hour fast and plasma fibrinogen concentration, activity of plasma proteinC, coagulation factors V, VII, IX, and serum concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), free carnitine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Results: In the carnitine group, mean serum free carnitine concentration increased significantly to 150% of baseline (p < 0.001), whereas plasma fibrinogen and serum CRP had 98 mg/dL (p < 0.01) and 41% (p < 0.01) significant decreases, respectively, at the end of week 12 compared with baseline. The reductions were significant compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05).No significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to mean changes of the activity of plasma protein C, coagulation factors V, VII, IX, and serum PAI-1 to tPA ratio. Conclusion: L-Carnitine supplement reduces serum CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation, and plasma fibrinogen, an inflammation-related coagulation factor, in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, L-carnitine may play an effective role in preventing cardiovascular diseases in these patients.