Waqar Ahmed, Rizwan-ul haq, Mateen Akram, Ahad Quyyum, Abad-ur rehman, Saqlain Haider.
Experience with Levocarnitine in Reducing Frequency of Intradialytic Hypotension in patients on Maintenance.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;8(3):723-5.

Aim: To assess the role of levocarnitinein reducing the frequency of intradialytic hypotension in maintenance haemodialysis patients. Methods: 20 patients having 3 or more episodes of intradialytic hypotension/week on maintenance haemodialysis at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore were enrolled in the study. Each patient was dialyzed according to a standard protocol and dialysate. Each participant was infused with 20mg/kg body weight intravenous levocarnitine at the end of each dialysis session in the venous port while blood was being returned to the patient for 6 months. The number of intradialytic hypotensive episodes/week was noted during the 6 month period. Results: At the start of the study 12 patients had 3 episodes of intradialytic hypotension/week, 3 patients had 4 episodes/week while 2 patients had 5 intradialytic hypotensive episodes/week. At end of 6 month study period, 12 patients had no intradialytic hypotensive episodes while 2 patients had 1 intradialytic hypotensive episode/week. There was 1 patient who had 2 episodes/week while 2 patients had 3 intradialytic hypotensive episode/week. Conclusion: Intravenous levocarnitine at the end of each dialysis session helps in reducing frequency of intradialytic hypotension in maintenance haemodialysis patients.

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