Background The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of L-carnitine treatment on the left ventricular mass, it’s systolic-diastolic function, exercise capacity and blood pressure.
Material and methods The study was performed in 20 patients (11 females, 9 males) mean age 52.10 ± 15.72 years, duration of hemodialysis therapy 33.84 ± 20.41 months. Patients obtained L-carnitine (Carnivit) orally at the daily dose 4 × 250 mg during the following 6 months. Before and after the treatment in all patients echocardiography, treadmill stress test, ECG, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and 24-hour ECG monitoring and carnitine serum levels were evaluated. The control group consisted of 10 patients (5 females, 5 males, mean age 50.23 ± 18.10 years, duration of hemodialysis therapy 41.2 ± 23.12 months) with crf and without L-carnitine treatment. In those patients echocardiography, treadmill stress test and carnitine serum levels were evaluated.
Results The second control grup consisted of 30 age and sex-matched healthy subjects (18 females, 12 males, mean age 41.2 ± 18.6 years). After 6 months of L-carnitine treatment left ventricular mass (LVM), relative wall thickness (RWT), posterior wall thickness (PWT) and interventricular septum (IVS) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular function signifiacantly improved, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased and ejection fraction (LVEF) increased. Exercise capacity measured during treadmill stress test improved, patients in NYHA II/III class were improved to NYHA II. The correlations between carnitine serum levels and PW, IVS, RWT, time and load during exercise treadmill stress test confirm the positive influence of L-carnitine treatment on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy as well as on it’s systolic-diastolic function and exercise capacity.
Conclusion L-carnitine treatment has no influence on blood pressure, ischemic changes in ECG examination and heart rate variability.