title: L-carnitine deficiency in AIDS patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate carnitine (3-hydroxy-4-N-trimethyl-ammoniobutanoate) deficiency in AIDS patients by measuring serum total, free and short-chain carnitine concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were seen at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, Università 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine AIDS patients, aged 27-41 years, with a previous history of drug use; and 14 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study subjects were administered 500-800 mg zidovudine daily for 2 to 28 months (8 +/- 6 months).
  
  
  METHODS
  Carnitine deficiency was suspected in study participants prior to data collection because of previously reported cardiac symptoms, muscle weakness, hypometabolism and/or cachexia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A marked decrease in total and free carnitine was observed in 21 (72%) subjects. Nine of these patients also had low levels of short-chain carnitine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIDS patients may become carnitine-depleted and therefore at risk for alterations in fatty-acid oxidation and energy supply.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università dell' Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzantzoglou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jirillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vullo
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014804:Vitamin B Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine