Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is increasingly recognized as a systemic disease characterized by progressive airfow limitation as well as respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness. oefciency in the levels of carnitine \"an essential nutrient for optimal muscle function\" has been associated with peripheral and respiratory muscle weakness in other diseases, but has not yet been examined in COPD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma acyl carnitine fractions were reduced in patients with capo, and examine if the defciency correlated with COPD severity. \r\nPatients and methods: A prospective case control study to compare acyl carnitine levels and other parameters in 81 capo patients treated at the pulmonology oepartment, King Fahad Specialist Hospital oammam, with 48 age and sex matched healthy controls. All subjects participating in the study underwent a complete physical examination and detailed pulmonary function tests (pFTs). Blood samples were taken for acyl carnitine profles as well as a panel of other tests including albumin, total protein, Iron, cRp and pre-albumin. Acyl carnitine profle was determined using Lc-MS/MS analysis. \r\nResults: COPD patients had signifcantly lower total carnitine levels compared to controls (43.9�±6.5 and 22.7�±11.9 respectively). Furthermore there was a signifcantly greater reduction in carnitine levels in patients with very severe COPD compared to patients with mild COPD. \r\nConclusion: aur study demonstrated a signifcant defciency in carnitine levels in COPD patients, and the degree of defciency correlated with the severity of COPD.
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