Pharmacological Treatment for Dialysis-Related Muscle Cramps: A Systematic Review

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #muscle-cramp #renal-dialysis #kidney-failure-chronic

Pharmacological Treatment for Dialysis-Related Muscle Cramps: A Systematic Review

Mantilla-Manosalva et al., 2024 | Semin Dial | Systematic Review

Citation

Mantilla-Manosalva Nidia, Guadarrama Santiago, ... Correa-Morales Juan Esteban. Pharmacological Treatment for Dialysis-Related Muscle Cramps: A Systematic Review. Semin Dial. 2024;37(6):415-423. doi:10.1111/sdi.13223

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis suffer from muscle cramps, a prevalent and burdensome symptom for which there is a paucity of efficient and safe treatments. AIM: What is the efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of dialysis-related muscle cramps? DESIGN: A systematic review was conducted in OVID, CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and Central Cochrane databases up to August 25, 2023. DATA SOURCES: Experimental studies reporting on a pharmacological intervention for the treatment of dialysis-related muscle cramps were included. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, and the studies quality was assessed with the RoB2 tool. RESULTS: A total of 4660 studies were retrieved, and 13 articles were included. The studies reported on nine interventions: vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K2, vitamin B7, dextrose solutions, gabapentin, sodium chloride, creatine monohydrate, and L-carnitine. The studies testing L-carnitine and creatine monohydrate were the only ones deemed to have a low risk of bias. Side effects were reported in only two trials, consisting primarily of gastrointestinal discomfort and hyperglycemia. Vitamins C and E are the two most studied interventions that showed positive results in reducing the frequency, severity, and duration of dialysis-related muscle cramps. L-carnitine is a promising intervention that warrants further investigation. CONCLUSION: Our review consolidates the existing evidence, elucidating the range of treatments along with their potential benefits and limitations. Future studies should uphold high-quality standards, incorporate patient-reported outcomes, and utilize well-defined, robust samples to improve patient care.

Key Findings

A total of 4660 studies were retrieved, and 13 articles were included. The studies reported on nine interventions: vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K2, vitamin B7, dextrose solutions, gabapentin, sodium chloride, creatine monohydrate, and L-carnitine. The studies testing L-carnitine and creatine monohydrate were the only ones deemed to have a low risk of bias. Side effects were reported in only two trials, consisting primarily of gastrointestinal discomfort and hyperglycemia. Vitamins C and E are t

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population end
Sample Size 4660
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Muscle Cramp
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: creatine

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09