EFFECT OF CARNITINE AND ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE UPTAKE OF C-11 CARNITINE IN MUSCLE OF A MYOPATHIC CARNITINE DEFICIENT PATIENT USING POSITRON EMISSION SCINTIGRAPHY

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the pattern of C-11-carnitine uptake after various treatment regimens in a myopathic carnitine-defi cient patient and two normal volunteers, using a whole body counter sp ecially adapted for positron emission, One carnitine-deficient patient and two normal volunteers were scanned after an intravenous injection of C-11-carnitine, both while on carnitine therapy and after disconti nuation thereof. The third scan was done on the patient following carn itine and fatty acid therapy for 7 days. Both the carnitine-deficient patient and the normal volunteers showed improved C-11-carnitine uptak e by thigh muscles after carnitine supplementation, and the carnitine- deficient patient even more so after carnitine and fatty acid suppleme ntation. It is therefore concluded that the scintigraphic findings sup port the clinical impression that carnitine deficient patients improve after carnitine and essential fatty acid supplementation.