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Cardiac effects of carnitine deficiency induced by antibiotics containing pivalic acid in children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Kate Abrahamsson*
Affiliation:
Department of PediatricsGothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Mats Mellander
Affiliation:
Department of PediatricsGothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Bengt O. Eriksson
Affiliation:
Department of PediatricsGothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Elisabeth Holme
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Ulf Jodal
Affiliation:
Department of PediatricsGothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Sven Lindstedt
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
*
K Abrahamsson, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgren's Hospital, S-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden. Telephone: +46-31602426. Fax number: +46-31827610

Abstract

We studied echocardiographically 17 children with depletion of carnitine due to treatment over 1–3 years with antibiotics containing pivalic acid. When the children were depleted of carnitine, the left ventriclar posterior wall was significantly thickened in diastole when compared to a reference group. Six months later, after normalisation of the concentrations of carnitine, the left ventricular posterior wall was significantly thinner and did not differ from the reference group. We conclude that drugs containing pivalic acid, when given for several months, decrease the stores of carnitine to levels where cardiac involvement occurs.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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