Comparison of the Therapeutic Effect of Erythropoietin Alone and with the Combination of L-Carnitine on Hemoglobin Levels in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: L-carnitine deficiency causes various pathological conditions such as muscle weakness and erythropoietin-resistant anemia in hemodialysis patients. The present study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effect of erythropoietin alone and with the combination of L-carnitine on anemia in hemodialysis patients. Method: In this clinical trial, 24 patients undergoing hemodialysis at Imam Ali Hospital were selected for the study. The eligible participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups: one group received erythropoietin treatment alone, while the other group was treated with a combination of L-carnitine and erythropoietin. Blood samples were collected from all patients for a complete blood count (CBC), and their hemoglobin levels were measured both before and after the treatment. Results: The mean age of patients in the erythropoietin-only treatment group was 18.66±3.70 years, while in the group receiving both erythropoietin and L-carnitine, it was 23.83±5.70 years. A significant difference in age was found between the two groups (P=0.015). However, there was no significant difference in hemoglobin levels between the groups before treatment (P=0.327). After treatment, the mean hemoglobin levels in the erythropoietin group and the combination therapy group were 9.8±1.6 and 10.6±3.9 g/dL, respectively, with no significant difference observed between the two groups in terms of hemoglobin (P=0.324). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that treatment with erythropoietin alone, as well as in combination with L-carnitine, did not lead to a significant improvement in blood parameters in hemodialysis patients with anemia.