title: Propionyl-L-carnitine: a new compound in the metabolic approach to the treatment of effort angina.
abstract: The effects of propionyl-L-carnitine on exercise tolerance of 12 patients with stable exertional angina were assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over protocol using serial exercise tests. Compared to placebo, propionyl-L-carnitine significantly increased total work from 514 +/- 199 to 600 +/- 209 W (P less than 0.05) (17%) and prolonged exercise time and time to ischemic threshold from 515 +/- 115 to 565 +/- 109 sec (P less than 0.05) (10%) and from 375 +/- 102 to 427 +/- 93 sec (P less than 0.01) (14%), respectively. ST segment depression at the highest common work level was significantly reduced from 0.19 +/- 0.08 to 0.15 +/- 0.08 mV (P less than 0.05) (21%). No significant changes in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and rate-pressure product at rest, at the highest common work level, on appearance of the ischemic threshold, or at peak exercise were observed after propionyl-L-carnitine treatment. No side effects were observed under propionyl-L-carnitine treatment. This study shows that propionyl-L-carnitine can significantly improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina. Our data seem to confirm that propionyl-L-carnitine most likely exerts its protective action via the metabolic pathway.
authors.affiliation: Clinica del Lavoro Foundation, Institute of Care and Research, Rehabilitation Medical Center, Division of Cardiology, Cassano Murge, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagioia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scrutinio
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mangini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramunni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Totaro Fila
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rizzon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C003223:propionylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine