Effects of intravenous l-carnitine on myocardial fatty acid imaging in hemodialysis patients: responders or non-responders to l-carnitine.

ABSTRACT: We investigated whether chronic intravenous administration of l-carnitine could improve myocardial fatty acid imaging in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. We enrolled 72 hemodialysis patients who had impaired myocardial fatty acid imaging and left ventricular dysfunction not based on coronary lesion. l-Carnitine (1,000 mg) was intravenously administered after dialysis for 1 year to 36 participants (Carnitine group), while not in the other 36 participants (Control group). Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using an iodinated fatty acid analogue, BMIPP, was performed. Uptake on SPECT images was graded in 17 segments on a five-point scale (0, normal; 4, absent) and assessed as BMIPP summed scores. During follow-up, 19 participants were discontinued from the study, and 53 p

SUBMITTER: Nishimura M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4503700 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature