TY - JOUR T1 - Transient reduction of human left ventricular mass in carnitine depletion induced by antibiotics containing pivalic acid. JF - British Heart Journal JO - Heart SP - 656 LP - 659 DO - 10.1136/hrt.74.6.656 VL - 74 IS - 6 AU - K. Abrahamsson AU - M. Mellander AU - B. O. Eriksson AU - E. Holme AU - U. Jodal AU - A. Jönsson AU - S. Lindstedt Y1 - 1995/12/01 UR - http://heart.bmj.com/content/74/6/656.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVE--To study the effect of induced carnitine depletion on myocardial structure and function. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN--7 healthy adult volunteers given 1200 mg pivmecillinam per day for 7-8 weeks were studied by echocardiography before and after 7-8 weeks of treatment and a 15 months follow up after the treatment period. SETTING--Teaching hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Carnitine concentration in serum, urine, and muscle and echocardiographic measurements. RESULTS--After 7-8 weeks of treatment the median free serum carnitine concentration was reduced to 7% and the median total muscle carnitine concentration to 46% of the pretreatment levels. The median diastolic interventricular septum thickness decreased by 14% (mean 26%, P = 0.028) and the median left ventricular mass by 10% (mean 20%, P = 0.018). Fifteen months later these dimensions had increased but not completely returned to pretreatment values. CONCLUSIONS--Extended treatment with pivalic acid containing antibiotics causes carnitine depletion which may lead to changes in cardiac structure. ER -