PREGNANCY-RELATED CHANGES OF CARNITINE AND ACYLCARNITINE CONCENTRATIONS OF PLASMA AND ERYTHROCYTES

Total-, free-, and acylcarnitine concentrations were determined in who le blood, plasma, and red blood cells of 88 women during pregnancy. Al ready in the 12(th) week of gestation the mean whole blood carnitine l evel was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than those of the controls. Fr om the 12(th) gestational week up to parturition there was a further s ignificant (p < 0.01) decrease. This reduction of total carnitine in w hole bloods was mainly caused by a significant (p < 0.01) decrease of free carnitine levels, since no marked changes of short chain acylcarn itine values were found throughout pregnancy. The contribution of red blood cell L-carnitine to whole blood carnitine increased significantl y (p < 0.05) to 61% at delivery versus 39% (controls). In umbilical co rd blood free and total carnitine levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the corresponding maternal levels. The contribution of re d blood cell L-carnitine to whole blood carnitine was higher in cord b lood than in maternal blood. The results of the present study demonstr ate that during pregnancy whole blood and plasma carnitine levels decr ease to those levels found in patients with carnitine deficiency. Also the percentage of acylcarnitine on total carnitine, found in the pres ent study, is characteristic for a secondary carnitine deficiency. Thu s L-carnitine substitution in pregnant women, especially in risk pregn ancies, may be advantageous.