Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background and Aim: Nephrotoxicity is the most important and the most frequent adverse effect of Aminoglycosides, which restricts its usage despite its availability and effectiveness. It seems that

  L-carnitine with an inhibitory effect on free radical production and some antioxidant effect, may have a supportive role against the potential renal damage due to ischemia. The recent study was designed to compare the serum ACE and serum and urine NAG activities in patients on L-carnitine and Gentamicin treatment with the control group.

  Materials and Methods: The recent study is a randomized clinical trial conducted on patients admitted in the Orthopedic ward of Hazrat-e-Rasool Akram hospital in 2006. Sixty-four patients were allocated randomly to the case and control groups. The control group received 80 mg of intravenous (IV) Gentamicin, three times a day for 3 days. The case group was under the same treatment plus 1 gram of oral L-carnitine, for 3 days, three times a day. Serum ACE and serum and urine NAG activities were compared within the two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.11.05 software ,Paired sample t-test, Independent sample t-test and ANOVA.

  Results: Serum and urine NAG activity on the first day showed no significant difference among the two groups, but there were significant differences at the end of the treatment period (4^th day). Serum ACE activity in both the case and control groups showed no significant differences prior and after the treatment period.

  Conclusion: The results of the recent study showed significant changes in serum and urine NAG activity during the short course of the treatment. These may show early renal tubular injury prior to any BUN and creatinine changes. On the other hand, although urine NAG activity in patients receiving L-carnitine showed an increase on the fourth day of treatment, but the increase is less than the control group. The above findings may support the supportive role of L-carnitine in tubular damages.

  Introduction : Hyperkalemia is a common disorder among renal failure patients and is considered as an important internal medicine emergency. On the other hand, considering the non-specific symptoms of hyperkalemia and its similarity to the underlying diseases’ symptoms, the occurrence of dangerous side effects is probable. One of the most important effects is on myocardium. Considering the immature mechanism of potassium conformity in confrontation with hyperkalemia in Acute Renal Failure (ARF) patients, the toxic effects of hyperkalemia occurs in lower potassium levels. The aim of this study is comparing the EKG changes due to hyperkalemia in patients with acute and chronic renal failure undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

  Methods : The recent study was an analytic cross-sectional one performed on patients hospitalized in hemodialysis ward in Hashemi Nejad, Shohadaye-hafte- tir and Rasoul Akram hospitals, during 1382-1383. The serum electrolyte levels and EKG changes of 138 patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) who were under chronic hemodialysis and 91 patients with ARF, who were hospitalized in different wards, were measured and evaluated, using SPSS V.11 software and t and Chi Square tests

  Results : Among 229 patients, 138 (60%) were ESRD patients who were under chronic hemodialysis and 91 (40%) had acute renal failure. The mean potassium level in ARF and ESRD patients were 5.66 ± 1.2 and 5.77 ± 0.91 mE/l which did not differ significantly (p=0.4). In EKG evaluations, the mean height of T wave, R wave and T/R ratio in ARF patients were 6.3 ± 2.4 mm, 5.7 ± 2.1 mm and 1.3 ± 0.9 mm respectively. These data in ESRD patients were 6 ± 2.2 mm, 5.6 ± 2.3 mm and 1.2 ± 0.78 mm. No significant difference was seen among two groups (P = 0.3, 0.8 and 0.7). In ARF and ESRD patients, there was a significant relationship between peaked tall T wave frequency and hyperkalemia severity (p<0.001). In the simultaneous presence of hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia, peaked tall T wave frequency, mean of R wave height and T/R ratio in ARF and ESRD groups were not significantly different. On the other hand, in the coincidence of hyperkalemia and hyponatremia peaked tall T wave frequency and T/R ratio in ARF and ESRD groups were significantly different. (P <0.05)

  Conclusion : Severe hyperkalemia, hyperkalemia in the setting of ARF and the simultaneous presence of hyperkalemia and hyponatremia may increase the probability of cardiac changes. These groups of patients who undergo hemodialysis need vigorous care considering the cardiac complications.