Carnitine Status andSafety after Administration ofS-1108, aNewOralCephem, toPatients

carnitine ratio increased from0.1to0.4upto0.7to1.5atday5during the7-day treatment, showed atendency todecrease, andthenreturned tothepretreatment ratio 4daysafter discontinuation ofthedrug.Thedegree offree carnitine reduction andincrease oftheacylcarnitine/fr ee carnitine ratio depended mostly onthedoseandthe duration ofS-1108 treatment. Theincreased acylcarnitine/free carnitine ratio inelderly patients wasdueto reduction ofthefree carnitine concentration inplasma andmainly totheretardation ofnontoxic pivaloylcarnitine excretion. Thisstudy indicated that there wasadecrease infree carnitine levels inplasma, butthere were noclinical symptoms oradverse effects associated withcarnitine reduction inpatients during the7-day multiple administration ofS-1108.