Effect of L-carnitine on the calcium content of erythrocytes of uremic patients on hemodialysis

The purpose of this study was to determine the calcium content of erythrocytes in uremic patients under regular hemodialysis (HD) and to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine (L-C) on this cellular ion. In 36 hemodialyzed uremic patients-18 under treatment with L-C and 18 without L-C-serum and erythrocytic calcium were determined pre- and post-HD. Erythrocytic calcium was also determined in 21 normal subjects (controls). The mean value (±SD) of erythrocytic calcium in patients under L-C was 2.00 ± 0.18 μg/ml pre-HD vs. 1.96 ± 0.17 μg/ml post-HD. The mean value without L-C was 2.21 ± 0.18 μg/ml pre-HD vs. 2.20 ± 0.25 μg/ml post-HD. The control group had a mean value of 0.60 ± 0.13 μg/ml. These values show that uremic patients in both groups, pre- and post-HD, have significantly higher erythrocytic calcium levels in comparison to the controls (p<0.0001). However, the comparison of values between the two groups of HD patients shows that erythrocytic calcium in patients treated with L-C was significantly lower pre- and post-HD than in patients without L-C (p<0.01). The mean serum calcium level in patients treated with L-C was 10.60 ± 0.60 mg/dl pre-HD vs. 12.10 ± 0.89 mg/dl post-HD. The mean value without L-C was 10.57 ± 0.61 mg/dl pre-HD vs. 12.18 ± 0.73 mg/dl post-HD. These values were not significantly different between the two groups. In conclusion, uremic patients present with high erythrocytic calcium pre- and post-HD. The administration of L-C in these patients may maintain erythrocytic calcium at lower levels.