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

• To study the effect of induced carnitine depletion on myocardial structure and function.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.Teaching hospital.Carnitine concentration in serum, urine, and muscle and echocardiographic measurements.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.Extended treatment with pivalic acid containing antibiotics causes carnitine depletion which may lead to changes in cardiac structure.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Adult

Amdinocillin Pivoxil

adverse effects

Anti-Bacterial Agents

adverse effects

Carnitine

blood

deficiency

urine

Echocardiography

Female

Heart Septum

drug effects

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Muscle

Skeletal

chemistry

metabolism

pathology

Myocardium

metabolism

pathology

Pentanoic Acids

adverse effects

Time Factors

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)