T. Ito et al., ALTERATION OF AMMONIA AND CARNITINE LEVELS IN SHORT-TERM TREATMENT WITH PIVALIC ACID-CONTAINING PRODRUG, Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 175(1), 1995, pp. 43-53
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.