Assessment of Plasma Carnitine and Acylcarnitine Levels in Preeclampsia

Objective: Carnitine plays a crucial role in fatty acids oxidation. The aim of the study is to assess plasma carnitine and acylcarnitines levels in preeclamptic women as a measure of abnormal fatty acid oxidation. Methods: The study included 40 women with preeclampsia and 30 normotensive control women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Women with multiple pregnancy, chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus and renal diseases were excluded. Plasma levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitines were measured with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Total and free carnitines and acylcarnitines were significantly increased in preeclamptic cases in comparison to the control group. A positive correlation was found between acylcarnitines and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.382, p=0.018). Conclusion: The significantly high plasma carnitine concentrations found in this study supports the hypothesis of abnormal fatty acid metabolism in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. This may contribute to the endothelial cell dysfunction of preeclampsia.