title: The effect of preoperative L-carnitine supplementation on myocardial metabolism during aorto-coronary bypass surgery.
abstract: 68 patients with defined myocardial ischemia, undergoing aorto-coronary bypass operation were assigned either to a group supplemented with L-carnitine (n = 41) or to a control group (n = 27). When extracorporeal circulation was established, a small piece of the right atrial appendage was biopsied and prepared for analysis for ATP, lactate and carnitine fractions. The ATP concentrations were higher in the patients supplemented with carnitine. A negative correlation existed between ATP and lactate levels. The amount of total carnitine was similar in both groups. However, free carnitine was higher, and long-chain acylcarnitine was lower when L-carnitine was supplemented. Postoperatively, the patients needed less inotropic medicaments, when supplemented with L-carnitine. L-carnitine supplementation in patients needed less inotropic medicaments, when supplemented with L-carnitine. L-carnitine supplementation in patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass operation proved to be effective and beneficial for the normalization of myocardial energy metabolism parameters.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011292:Premedication
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002331:Carnitine