Ramos, A CBarrucand, LElias, P RPimentel, A MPires, V R1992-12-012009-05-271992-12-012009-05-271992-12-01Ramos AC, Barrucand L, Elias PR, Pimentel AM, Pires VR. Carnitine supplementation in diphtheria. Indian Pediatrics. 1992 Dec; 29(12): 1501-5http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/15574We studied the effect of carnitine supplementation in patients with diphtheria. Six hundred and twenty five children of diphtheria received either DL-carnitine (100 mg/kg/day in two divided doses orally for four days), or no carnitine, in addition to the routine treatment for diphtheria. The patients receiving carnitine (n = 327) and controls (n = 298) were matched for age, sex, duration of symptoms, grade of toxemia and immunization status. Patients receiving carnitine showed a significant reduction in incidence of myocarditis as compared to controls (p = 0.001). Cases with myocarditis receiving carnitine therapy showed a significant reduction in mortality as compared to controls (p < 0.001). In view of a significant decline in incidence and mortality of myocarditis in cases of diphtheria, we recommended that all cases with diphtheria should receive carnitine supplementation.engBrazil --epidemiologyCarnitine --therapeutic useChildChild, PreschoolDiphtheria --complicationsFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantMaleMyocarditis --etiologyClinical Trial