Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a syndrome characterised by cardiac enlargemerıt and impaired systolic function of one or both ventricles. Carnitine, is a peptid that plays key role in the transport of long chain fatty acid to mitochondrion where ATP is produced via ß oxidation for contraction of myocardium. Levels of serum carnitine were measured in 17 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy using enzymatic UV. Results were compared with 9 controls. Ejection fraction, left ventricle and-diastolic diameter and QRS wideness are parameters that are accepted as poor prognosis also measured using colour Doppler echocardiography and ECG. There was no statistical significance between the two groups according to serum carnitine levels (p>0.05). Serum carnitine levels did not show positive correlation with hemodynamic parameters and QRS wideness. As a conclusion the measuring of serum carnitine is not a predictive method to assess etiology and prognosis in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.