[The carnitine level of the umbilical cord blood in relation to the course of labor].

Total and free carnitine were analyzed in cord blood of 24 newborn babies, with uncomplicated delivery, and 12 neonates with protacted labour. At birth, the mean neonatal carnitine value (total 33.7 +/- 10.1; free 23.5 +/- 7.5 mumol/l) was lower than the mean adult value (60.0 +/- 10.0 and 50.5 +/- 7.3, resp.). The carnitine values in the group with protracted labour increase slowly with duration of delivery. In our opinion carnitine values of neonates are not suitable for diagnosis of systemic carnitine deficiency syndrome.