RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Transient reduction of human left ventricular mass in carnitine depletion induced by antibiotics containing pivalic acid.
JF British Heart Journal
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 656
OP 659
DO 10.1136/hrt.74.6.656
VO 74
IS 6
A1 K. Abrahamsson
A1 M. Mellander
A1 B. O. Eriksson
A1 E. Holme
A1 U. Jodal
A1 A. Jönsson
A1 S. Lindstedt
YR 1995
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/74/6/656.abstract
AB 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.