title: Carnitine for prevention of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity: a randomized, clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the potential benefits of oral carnitine in preventing antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients in the carnitine and 62 patients in the placebo group completed the study. The carnitine group received 1000 mg oral carnitine solution twice daily for 4 weeks. The placebo group received 10 mL of oral placebo solution twice daily for 4 weeks. ATDH was defined as an increase in the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase greater than three or five times of the upper limit of normal with or without clinical symptoms of hepatotoxicity, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 29 (25%) patients experienced ATDH. Among these patients, nine (16.7%) and 20 (32.3%) were in the carnitine and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.049). Based on multivariate logistic regression model, age over 35 years old (odds ratio [OR] = 7.01, P = 0.002), human immunodeficiency virus infection (OR = 40.4, P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR = 37.6, P = 0.001), and placebo treatment (OR = 0.1, P = 0.01) were identified as predisposing factors for ATDH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of our preliminary clinical trial suggested that cotreatment with 2000 mg oral L-carnitine solution daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased the rate of ATDH.
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Shima
authors: S
authors: Hatamkhani
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Khalili
authors: Iman
authors: I
authors: Karimzadeh
authors: Simin
authors: S
authors: Dashti-Khavidaki
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Abdollahi
authors: Sirous
authors: S
authors: Jafari
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012996:Solutions; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012996:Solutions; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D002331:Carnitine
keywords: anti-tuberculosis medication; carnitine; hepatotoxicity; prevention