Effects of carnitine and coenzyme Q10 on lipid profile and serum levels of lipoprotein[a] in maintenance hemodialysis patients on statin therapy

Dyslipidemia and high serum lipoprotein[a] are among the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in hemodialysis patients. Statins as a first line of therapy in hyperlipidemia does not always reduce the serum lipoprotein[a] level. Several studies have reported the lipid-lowering effects of carnitine and coenzyme Q10 in hemodialysis patients. This study was designed to investigate the effects of carnitine and coenzyme Q10 on serum lipid profile and lipoprotein[a] level in maintenance hemodialysis patients. This was a randomized placebo-controlled trial. We studied on hemodialysis patients who were on treatment with atorvastatin or lovastatin to assess the efficacy of supplement therapy. They were divided into 4 groups to receive carnitine, coenzyme Q10, both carnitine and coenzyme Q10, and placebo. After a 3-month experiment, blood samples were collected to measure serum levels of lipoprotein[a], triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Fifty-two hemodialysis patients, 27 men and 25 women, completed the course of the study. Three months after supplement therapy, serum levels of lipoprotein[a] reduced significantly in the carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and combination groups compared to the baseline values and the 3-month value of lipoprotein[a] in the placebo group [P = .01]. Serum levels of triglyceride and other lipoproteins did not significantly alter. Our study showed that supplementation with carnitine and coenzyme Q10 could reduce serum levels of lipoprotein[a] in maintenance hemodialysis patients treated with statins

Prediction of rejection in renal transplantation by immune parameters

Monitoring of phenotypic characteristics of T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood is commonly performed to give the clinical parameters in the management of kidney transplant recipients. To predict rejection in renal transplantation by immune parameters. 16 non-diabetic kidney transplant candidates [4 females and 12 males, age = 20-65 yr,-first time transplant] were selected. The transplanted patients were divided into two groups based on the rejection during 3 weeks post transplant: group I [n = 9] without rejection and group II [n = 7] with a rejection episode. Immune parameters including lymphocytes subpopulations [by flowcytometry] and immunoglobulin classes [IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE by nephlometric assay] before and 45 days after transplantation were determined. The results of this investigation showed that the level of immunoglobulin IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE decreased post transplantation due to immunosuppressive drugs. CDS, CD4, CDS T cells count, CD56 NK cells count and CD20 B cells count pre- and post-transplantation did not show any significant differences. The amount of IgE [220 vs. 462 Ill/ml], CDS [62% vs. 69.7%] and CD4 [35% vs. 41.3%] cells increased in group II during rejection episode pre-transplantation. In addition, IgA increased pre-transplantation in group I those without rejection episode in comparison with group II with a rejection episode. Forty five days post transplantation IgA [209 vs. 152 mg/dl], IgG [1009 vs. 703 mg/dl] and CD20 [15% vs. 10%] increased in group 1 patients. It is suggestive that pre-transplantation increases IgE, CDS and CD4 are predictive of acute rejection