THE EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE ON ERYTHROCYTES OSMOTIC FRAGILITY IN DIALYZED PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of L-Camitine (LC) treatment on erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) that important cause of anemia in diyalized patients. 35 patients, with mean age 46.4±14 years on meintenance dialysis (17 heamodialysisHD, 18 continious ambulatory periyonel dialysisCAPD) and 44 healty individiuals with mean age 45±9 years were included to study. . Patients group received LC 2 g /day for 4 months then 20-25 mg/kg 3 days a week, for following 12 months. At initial, haemoglobin (Hb),haemotocrit (Hct) and Erythrocyte (Er) inpatients were lower (P<0.000) and EOF was higher (P<0.005) than those of the controls. Hb, Hct, Er were increased in 4 months then continued in further 12 months (P<0.0005, <0.005, <0.05). EOF decreased after 16 months and after discontinued LC, it showed to return the baseline value, but still was higher (<0.005) after 4 months discontinued LC . Free Carnitine increased after 16 months (P<0.000). Our findigs suggest that improvoment in anemia with LC treatment was due to decrasing effects of its on EOF.