Schoderbeck M, Auer B, Legenstein E, Genger H, Sevelda P, Salzer H, Marz R, Lohninger A
Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Medical School, Austria.
J Perinat Med. 1995;23(6):477-85. doi: 10.1515/jpme.1995.23.6.477.
Total-, free-, and acylcarnitine concentrations were determined in whole blood, plasma, and red blood cells of 88 women during pregnancy. Already in the 12th week of gestation the mean whole blood carnitine level was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than those of the controls. From the 12th gestational week up to parturition there was a further significant (p < 0.01) decrease. This reduction of total carnitine in whole bloods was mainly caused by a significant (p < 0.01) decrease of free carnitine levels, since no marked changes of short chain acylcarnitine values were found throughout pregnancy. The contribution of red blood cell L-carnitine to whole blood carnitine increased significantly (p < 0.05) to 61% at delivery versus 39% (controls). In umbilical cord blood free and total carnitine levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the corresponding maternal levels. The contribution of red blood cell L-carnitine to whole blood carnitine was higher in cord blood than in maternal blood. The results of the present study demonstrate that during pregnancy whole blood and plasma carnitine levels decrease to those levels found in patients with carnitine deficiency. Also the percentage of acylcarnitine on total carnitine, found in the present study, is characteristic for a secondary carnitine deficiency. Thus L-carnitine substitution in pregnant women, especially in risk pregnancies, may be advantageous.
测定了88名孕妇全血、血浆和红细胞中的总肉碱、游离肉碱和酰基肉碱浓度。在妊娠第12周时，全血肉碱平均水平就显著低于对照组（p<0.01）。从妊娠第12周直至分娩，全血肉碱水平进一步显著下降（p<0.01）。全血中总肉碱的降低主要是由于游离肉碱水平显著下降（p<0.01），因为在整个孕期短链酰基肉碱值未见明显变化。红细胞左旋肉碱对全血肉碱的贡献在分娩时显著增加（p<0.05），从39%（对照组）增至61%。脐血中游离肉碱和总肉碱水平显著高于相应的母体水平（p<0.05）。红细胞左旋肉碱对全血肉碱的贡献在脐血中高于母体血。本研究结果表明，孕期全血和血浆肉碱水平降至肉碱缺乏患者的水平。本研究中发现的酰基肉碱占总肉碱的百分比也是继发性肉碱缺乏的特征。因此，对孕妇尤其是高危孕妇补充左旋肉碱可能有益。
