Quantitative assessment of carnitine loss during haemodialysis and haemofiltration

Carnitine concentrations were measured in plasma, haemofiltrate, dialysate and urine of patients on regular dialysis treatment and in normal controls. Patients on haemofiltration and on haemodialysis exhibited moderately decreased plasma values, whereas in eight patients on CAPD mean values did not differ from controls. Carnitine loss into the haemofiltrate was significantly lower than urinary carnitine excretion in normal subjects. Major disturbances of intestinal carnitine absorption in patients on regular dialysis treatment were not observed. It is concluded that patients on regular dialysis are in a state of moderate carnitine deficiency and that therapeutically induced carnitine losses or grossly impaired intestinal absorption are not major factors in the development of carnitine deficiency in these patients.