[Protective role of carnitine in acetate metabolism of patients with uremia treated by hemodialysis].

In 25 patients with chronic renal failure treated by haemodialysis with acetate-37 mEq/l containing fluid, plasma free, total carnitine and acetate concentration before and after HD were assessed. The concentration of acetate was high-12 mmol/l in 4 patients in which carnitine concentration was low. In these patients the incidence of the so-called "dialysis intolerance" or "acetate intolerance" such as acute hypotension, nausea, vomiting and headache were increased. The correlation between the serum acetate level and carnitine level and the symptoms suggest that the acetate overload during acetate dialysis affects acetate metabolism and administration of L-carnitine decreases the amount of accumulated acyl-CoA in the cytosol, and consequently--the citrate cycle function increases and diminish the intolerance symptoms.