Serum-free carnitine levels in children with heart failure

The serum-free carnitine (SFC) levels of 91 children with heart failure (HF ) and of a control group consisting of 30 healthy children were measured, T wenty-four of 91 children with HF were administered oral L-carnitine. The m ean SFC level of children with NF (20.16+/-0.30nmol/l) was significantly lo wer than that of the control group (38.98 +/- 0.79 nmol/ml) (p < 0.01), Mea n SPC levels of 24 patients, after L-carnitine administration, increased si gnificantly (p < 0.01). Patients administered L-carnitine displayed a marke d difference in time taken for clinical improvement compared with those not given oral L-carnitine,