Genger H, Enzelsberger H, Salzer H
I. Univ. Frauenklinik Wien.
Z Geburtshilfe Perinatol. 1988 Jul-Aug;192(4):155-7.
Carnitine (3-hydroxy and 4-trimethylaminobutyrate) present in all living cells, plays an important role in the oxidation of fatty acids. It is known that high dose carnitine activates surfactant synthesis. Given to women with imminent premature delivery, its benefit on the post natal period is proved. Own studies showed an increased need of carnitine during pregnancy. Therefore the questions rose if carnitine substitution improves placental insufficiency. 15 pregnant women were treated with 2 x 1 g carnitine orally for one week and with 1 x 1 g carnitine during the following 7 days when their fetus showed a retardation of 1-3 weeks. The control group were 15 untreated patients with the same problems of retardation. The placental insufficiency was diagnosed by fetometry, by blood parameters and the doppler ultrasound flow measurement. In the group of the treated patients 11 out of 15 showed an improvement, in 4 patients no effect of carnitine was seen and in 1 patient the retardation increased. In the control group 8 out of 15 patients showed a spontaneous improvement of fetal growth, 2 women did not have a change in their retardation and 5 patients had to be hospitalized because of increasing placental insufficiency. Inspite of the small number of patients a tendency towards a profit in carnitine treatment for placental insufficiency seems to be real.
肉碱（3-羟基-4-三甲基氨基丁酸）存在于所有活细胞中，在脂肪酸氧化过程中发挥着重要作用。已知高剂量肉碱可激活表面活性剂的合成。给即将早产的妇女使用后，已证明其对产后阶段有益。我们自己的研究表明，孕期对肉碱的需求增加。因此，出现了肉碱替代是否能改善胎盘功能不全的问题。15名孕妇在胎儿发育迟缓1至3周时，先口服2×1克肉碱，持续一周，随后7天每天口服1×1克肉碱。对照组为15名有同样发育迟缓问题但未接受治疗的患者。通过胎儿测量、血液参数和多普勒超声血流测量来诊断胎盘功能不全。在治疗组中，15名患者中有11名情况有所改善，4名患者未见肉碱有效果，1名患者发育迟缓加剧。在对照组中，15名患者中有8名胎儿生长出现自发改善，2名妇女发育迟缓情况未变，5名患者因胎盘功能不全加剧而不得不住院。尽管患者数量较少，但肉碱治疗胎盘功能不全似乎确实存在有益的趋势。
