Carnitine deficiency with hyperbilirubinemia, generalized skeletal muscle weakness and reactive hypoglycemia in a patient on long-term total parenteral nutrition: treatment with intravenous L-carnitine.
Low levels of plasma carnitine and reduced urinary carnitine excretion with persistently elevated plasma bilirubin levels, reactive hypoglycemia and generalized skeletal muscle weakness are described in a patient requiring long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Intravenous administration of L-carnitine at 400 mg/day for 7 days and subsequently a maintenance dose of 60 mg/day corrected the plasma carnitine deficiency and reactive hypoglycemia and was associated with a return to normal plasma bilirubin levels and a restoration of skeletal muscle strength.
D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000209:etiology*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002331:Carnitine