ObjectiveTo observe the effects of levocarnitine by intravenous injection on nutritional and microinflammatory state in maintenance hemodialysis patients. MethodsBetween October 2010 and October 2011, 62 maintenance hemodialysis (>6 months) patients in our dialysis center were enrolled in this study, and were randomly divided into treatment group (n=32) and control group (n=30). Patients in the treatment group were injected with levocarnitine (1.0 g once) after every dialysis for 3 months, while patients in the control group only accepted routine hemodialysis therapy. Blood biochemical indicators, serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured and compared at the experiment onset and 3 months later. ResultsAfter treatment with levocarnitine for three months, the average serum levels of albumin (Alb), hemoglobin (Hb), triacylglycerol (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hs-CRP, and the conditions of dialysis hypotension, muscular spasm, lacking in strength, and anorexia were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between the two groups (P>0.05). For the control group, after treatment, Alb, Hb and condition of anorexia changed significantly (P<0.05), while TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, hs-CRP, conditions of dialysis hypotension, muscular spasm and lacking of strength did not change (P>0.05); for the treatment group, after treatment, all Alb, Hb, TG, HDL-C, hs-CRP, conditions of dialysis hypotension, muscular spasm, lacking of strength and anorexia changed significantly (P<0.05), while TC and LDL-C did not change obviously (P>0.05). ConclusionLevocarnitine can significantly improve the nutritional and microinflammatory state and better the quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients.