ALTERATION OF AMMONIA AND CARNITINE LEVELS IN SHORT-TERM TREATMENT WITH PIVALIC ACID-CONTAINING PRODRUG

We investigated the influence on mitochondrial functions in carnitine deficiency caused by short-term treatment of cefterampivoxil (CFTM-PI) which is one of pivaloyloxymethyl-esterified antibiotics in adult vol unteers and diseased children. Administration of CFTM-PI caused hypoca rnitinemia in all cases, and we observed a significant elevation of bl ood ammonia levels compared with those after its withdrawal in disease d children. A significant negative correlation was found between the l evels of serum free carnitine and blood ammonia, and a positive correl ation was observed between serum carnitine and blood glutamine levels in all adult samples and samples during administration in diseased chi ldren. Our data suggest that these antibiotic medications affect the m itochondrial function even in a short-term treatment and that L-carnit ine supplementation would be necessary for patients treated with CFTM- PI.