Carnitine Levels in Neonatal Hypoxia

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine carnitine levels in hypoxic-ischemiac neonates. Total and free carnitine levels were measured in 20 normal term neonates and 20 term neonates who were diagnosed as hypoxia-ischemia. Both total carnitine levels (43.7 +/- 10.0 microg/dl vice 27.8 +/- 11.8 microg/dl, p<0.0001) and free carnitine levels (28.0 +/- 8.8 vice 13.2 +/- 6.8 microg/dl, p<0.0001) were lower in the hypoxic-ischemic group). Additionally acyl/total carnitine ratio was higher in the asphyxic group (0.33 +/- 0.20 vice 0.56 +/- 0.24, p<0.0001). The findings of this study show that neonates with hypoxia-ischemia suffer carnitine deficiency.