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Carnitine deficiency: Acute postpartum crisis
Author(s) -
Angelini Corrado,
Govoni Edmondo,
Bragaglia Mercedes M.,
Vergani Ludovica
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410040616
Subject(s) - carnitine , medicine , intensive care medicine , pediatrics
A 16‐year‐old girl, previously in good health, developed progressive generalized muscle weakness following her first parturition. The neck and proximal limb muscles were especially weak and painful. Carnitine (4‐trimethylamino‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) was markedly decreased in muscle, plasma, and urine. Dietary carnitine supplementation, 2.0 gm daily, was followed by clinical improvement and decreased lipid droplets in muscle biopsy. Together with previously reported cases, 2 fatal, the patient's illness emphasizes the risk of pregnancy in women with carnitine deficiency.