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D Novoa

Publications and source records attributed to D Novoa.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Carnitine deficiency in haemodialysed patients.

Free carnitine, acylcarnitine and total carnitine concentrations have been determined in the sera of chronic renal insufficiency patients undergoing regular haemodialysis treatment and in those of healthy controls. The most striking difference was found to be the high proportion of acylated carnitine (23.4 mumol/l) in the haemodialysed patients. Free carnitine and acylcarnitine levels were not completely restored between successive dialysis treatments, making levels measured immediately before the third weekly sessions significantly lower than those measured before the first session (p less than 0.01). In patients monitored throughout 25 wk of treatment, there was an exponential decay of both total serum carnitine levels (Spearman's r = -0.993, p less than 0.001) and free carnitine levels (Spearman's r = -0.972, p less than 0.001). It is suggested that in the absence of exogenous supplies of carnitine, endogenous synthesis is unable to make up for losses due to dialysis treatment, and that carnitine deficiency consequently ensues.

Adolescent↗

Carnitine concentrations in dialysed and undialysed patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

Free carnitine, acylcarnitine and total carnitine serum concentrations have been measured in chronic renal insufficiency patients under conservative treatment, in patients under regular haemodialysis treatment and in healthy controls. In the undialysed patients the levels of free carnitine, acylcarnitine and total carnitine were all clearly higher than those of the control group. The free carnitine and total carnitine levels of undialysed subjects were also higher than in regularly haemodialysed patients, showing that dialysis produces plasma carnitine losses that are not compensated for by endogenous synthesis of carnitine (this finding supports published reports of tissue carnitine deficiency in patients undergoing regular haemodialysis). The acylcarnitine levels of dialysed and undialysed patients were not significantly different, however; both were very much higher than that of control group. The hypercarnitinaemia of the patients under conservative treatment suggests that the impairment of renal function causes a reduction in the elimination of carnitine via the kidney.

Adult↗