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. 1995 Dec;74(6):656-9.
doi: 10.1136/hrt.74.6.656.

Transient reduction of human left ventricular mass in carnitine depletion induced by antibiotics containing pivalic acid

K Abrahamsson  1 , M Mellander, B O Eriksson, E Holme, U Jodal, A Jönsson, S Lindstedt
Affiliations

Transient reduction of human left ventricular mass in carnitine depletion induced by antibiotics containing pivalic acid

K Abrahamsson et al. Br Heart J. 1995 Dec.

Abstract

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.

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