LEVOCARNITINE SUMMARY
Levocarnitine is a carrier molecule in the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Levocarnitine Oral Solution USP is indicated in the treatment of primary systemic carnitine deficiency. In the reported cases, the clinical presentation consisted of recurrent episodes of Reye-like encephalopathy, hypoketotic hypoglycemia, and/or cardiomyopathy. Associated symptoms included hypotonia, muscle weakness and failure to thrive. A diagnosis of primary carnitine deficiency requires that serum, red cell and/or tissue carnitine levels be low and that the patient does not have a primary defect in fatty acid or organic acid oxidation (see
Clinical Pharmacology). In some patients, particularly those presenting with cardiomyopathy, carnitine supplementation rapidly alleviated signs and symptoms. Treatment should include, in addition to carnitine, supportive and other therapy as indicated by the condition of the patient.
Levocarnitine Oral Solution USP is also indicated for acute and chronic treatment of patients with an inborn error of metabolism which results in a secondary carnitine deficiency.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
None known.
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Published Studies Related to Levocarnitine
A prospective double-blind, randomized clinical trial of levocarnitine to treat autism spectrum disorders. [2011.06] CONCLUSIONS: L-carnitine therapy (50 mg/kilogram-bodyweight/day) administered for 3-months significantly improved several clinical measurements of ASD severity, but subsequent studies are recommended.
A prospective double-blind, randomized clinical trial of levocarnitine to treat
autism spectrum disorders. [2011] CONCLUSIONS: L-carnitine therapy (50 mg/kilogram-bodyweight/day) administered for
Clinical Trials Related to Levocarnitine
Effect of Early L-Carnitine Supplementation on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants [Recruiting]
Preterm infants are vulnerable to brain injury, nutritional deficiencies and poor early
growth which places them at increased risk for developmental problems later in life. The
micronutrient carnitine, which is present in breast milk and stored in the fetus late in
pregnancy, has been shown to protect against brain injury in animal studies. Without
supplementation, almost all preterm infants develop carnitine deficiency soon after birth.
Thus it is important to determine if carnitine supplementation protects against brain injury
and improves developmental outcomes in these vulnerable preterm infants. We hypothesize that
preterm infants supplemented early with L-carnitine while receiving parenteral nutrition
will not develop carnitine deficiency and will have improved growth in the first two weeks
of life and higher scores on developmental tests when compared to control infants who did
not receive carnitine.
Evaluation of Cilostazol in Combination With L-Carnitine [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to see how safe and effective L carnitine taken with cilostazol
is compared to placebo taken with cilostazol for people with intermittent claudication. A
second purpose of the study is to see if L-carnitine is absorbed into the blood stream.
Fat and Sugar Metabolism During Exercise, With and Without L-carnitine in Patients With Carnitine Transporter Deficiency [Completed]
The investigators wish to investigate fat and sugar metabolism during exercise with and
without L-carnitine supplementation in patients with carnitine transporter deficiency (CTD).
Patients with CTD have low plasma- and muscle concentrations of carnitine, which is believed
to lead to an impaired fat oxidation. Presently there is no cure available for these
patients, but daily intake of L-carnitine has been shown to limit the amount of symptoms.
Little is known about the metabolism during exercise and the pathophysiological mechanisms
causing the symptoms.
Studying the fat and sugar metabolism in CTD patients will contribute to the understanding
of the role of the carnitine transporter in the development of symptoms in these patients.
Furthermore, knowledge about the fat and sugar metabolism in these patients can increase the
understanding of the role of the carnitine transporter in the metabolism healthy persons.
The investigators have included 8 patients with genetically verified CTD in the study and a
group of 10 age- and sex-matched controls. Subjects will perform a 1h cycling test,
exercising at a moderate intensity. By measuring the expiration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and
consumption of oxygen (O2), the investigators can determine the total fatty acid and
carbohydrate oxidation during cycling. At the same time the investigators will measure the
patients' whole body palmitate (fat) and glucose (sugar) oxidation rates using stable
isotope technique.
The patient group will repeat the cycling test after 4 days without taking their usual
L-carnitine treatment. During the treatment break, patients will be admitted to be
continuously monitored for heart rhythm disturbances, which is a known but rarely occurring
complication to untreated CTD.
Since the patients have a defect in their fat metabolism, the investigators expect to find
that they have a reduced ability to burn fat, which is the major source of energy during low
intensity exercise. It is therefore likely, that the CTD patients will benefit from
adjustments in their daily diet, whenever they have to perform physically. By learning about
the metabolism of different dietary substances, fat and sugar, these studies can help to
improve the treatment in terms of dietary recommendations for CTD patients. This will have a
direct impact on the daily life of the patients.
Valproate and Levocarnitine in Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy [Recruiting]
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by muscle
weakness due to degeneration of anterior horn cells in the spinal cord and brain stem
nuclei. It has a variable incidence of 1 in 6700 to 1 in 25000 live births and prevalence of
0. 12 to 25 per 10,000 populations in different geographic areas and genetic constitution. A
homozygous deletion/mutation involving exon 7 in SMN1 (survival motor neuron 1) is present
in around 95% of the cases, resulting in the biochemical deficiency of the SMN protein. A
genomic duplication at the same locus produces nearly identical SMN2 (survival motor neuron
2) that differs from SMN1 by a nucleotide substitution that promotes exon 7 exclusion thus
giving rise to only a fraction of the full length protein. Phenotypic variation in SMA
correlates with the number of SMN2 gene copies and the level of SMN protein in cells.
Several hypotheses including defective inhibition of apoptosis, glutamate excitotoxicity and
lack of a neurotrophic factor(s) in nerve or muscle have been speculated in the pathogenesis
of SMA.
Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, directly increases SMN
expression in SMA patient-derived cell lines in vitro. Till date 3 open label trials and 1
placebo controlled RCT of VPA in human subjects have been published, all indicating a
possible benefit in strength and/or motor function. Till date there is no effective therapy
for SMA. Therapy is mainly supportive and palliative which can prolong lifespan and prevent
complications to some extent without actually curing the disease.
Children with SMA may have a reduced capacity to synthesis carnitine consequent to
significantly diminished skeletal muscle mass. VPA independently inhibits carnitine
transport and its metabolites deplete carnitine levels by binding to them. So along with
valproate these patients should be supplemented with carnitine.
With this background the investigators have planned a double blind randomized placebo
controlled trial of Valproate and levocarnitine in 60 children (30 each in intervention and
control arm) with Spinal Muscular Atrophy aged 2-15 years over a 2 year period with one
baseline and four follow up visits. The study will be conducted in the Department of
Pediatrics, AIIMS at the Myopathy clinic.
Effect of Carnitine Deficiency on Myocardial Function in Children Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy [Recruiting]
Carnitine is a nutrient that is usually obtained from the diet, and it is needed for
providing energy to the heart and the other muscles in the body. Carnitine is often given to
adults and children with kidney failure who receive chronic dialysis three times a week,
however there is no published information on how carnitine affects children receiving
continuous dialysis (CRRT). We hypothesize that children receiving CRRT quickly become
deficient in carnitine because it is continuously removed during dialysis. The aim of this
study to determine if giving daily carnitine to children on CRRT will help improve their
cardiac function, as assessed by echocardiography, in comparison to a control group.
Reports of Suspected Levocarnitine Side Effects
Toxicity TO Various Agents (4),
Hypophosphataemia (4),
Encephalopathy (3),
Asthenia (3),
Hypocalcaemia (2),
Agitation (1),
Product Substitution Issue (1),
Prothrombin Time Prolonged (1),
Inflammation (1),
Phlebitis (1), more >>
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Page last updated: 2013-02-10
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