Myocardial Free Carnitine and Fatty Acylcarnitine Levels in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Abstract

To study the tissue carnitine level in patients with chronic heart failure, we obtained biopsy specimens of the left ventricular papillary muscle from 8 patients with mitral valve disease undergoing valve replacement surgery. As a control group autopsy specimens from 7 patients without heart disease were obtained within 4 hours of death. The free carnitine level in the heart was significantly lower in patients with chronic heart failure than in the control group (412 142 nmol/g wet tissue vs 769 267; p<0.01, mean + SD). The long-chain acylcarnitine level was significantly higher in chronic heart failure than in the control group (532 + 169 nmol/g wet tissue vs 317 + 72; p<0.01). The total carnitine level in chronic heart failure was similar to that in the control group (1321170 nmol/g wet tissue vs 1315 + 377). © 1990, The Japanese Circulation Society. All rights reserved.