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Observational Study
. 2020 Nov;42(1):146-153.
doi: 10.1080/0886022X.2020.1719847.

Association between carnitine deficiency and the erythropoietin resistance index in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a cross-sectional observational study

Shohei Kaneko  1 , Keiji Hirai  1 , Junki Morino  1 , Saori Minato  1 , Katsunori Yanai  1 , Yuko Mutsuyoshi  1 , Hiroki Ishii  1 , Momoko Matsuyama  1 , Taisuke Kitano  1 , Mitsutoshi Shindo  1 , Akinori Aomatsu  1 , Haruhisa Miyazawa  1 , Yuichiro Ueda  1 , Kiyonori Ito  1 , Susumu Ookawara  1 , Yoshiyuki Morishita  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Association between carnitine deficiency and the erythropoietin resistance index in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a cross-sectional observational study

Shohei Kaneko et al. Ren Fail. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Carnitine deficiency contributes to developing various pathological conditions, such as cardiac dysfunction, muscle weakness, and erythropoietin-resistant anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, a conclusion has not been reached concerning the prevalence and the effect of carnitine deficiency in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). In this study, the prevalence of carnitine deficiency and the clinical factors associated with carnitine deficiency were investigated in 60 patients undergoing PD. The median age of the patients was 62.5 years (52.5-72.5 years), the proportion of male sex was 44/60 (73.3%), and the median PD period was 24 months (12-45 months). Carnitine deficiency (acyl carnitine/free carnitine ratio >0.4) was detected in 56/60 (93%) patients. Multiple regression analysis showed that the erythropoietin resistance index was independently associated with carnitine deficiency (β = 0.283, p = 0.04). These results suggest that carnitine plays pivotal roles in hematogenesis in patients undergoing PD.

Keywords: Anemia; carnitine deficiency; erythropoietin resistance index; peritoneal dialysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Significant correlation between carnitine deficiency (acyl carnitine/free carnitine ratio) and the erythropoietin resistance index in patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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