title: [The evaluation of the antiarrhythmic activity of L-carnitine and propafenone in ischemic cardiopathy].
abstract: In order to evaluate a possible antiarrhythmic action of L-carnitine (C) in ischemic heart disease, 30 patients (20 males, 10 females, average age 64 years +/- 11) with ischemic heart disease who at examination with 24-hour dynamic ECG showed extrasystolic ventricular multifocal arrhythmia with a mean hourly rate of > 300 were randomized into three groups, the first of which was given a daily oral dose of 6 g C in three divided doses; groups 2 and 3 were given propafenone (P), 900 mg daily in three divided doses. After one week, all patients were again submitted to 24-hour dynamic ECG after which treatment was continued for another week as follows: group 1 continued on C (6 g daily), group 2 continued on P (900 mg daily), group 3 continued on P (900 mg daily) plus C (6 g daily). At the end of the second week, a further 24-hour ECG was performed the results of which showed that L-carnitine can significantly reduce the antiarrhythmic activity of the ischemic myocardium. In addition, at the end of the second week, a further significant reduction of the number of premature beats compared to the first week was found in patients for whom L-carnitine had been added to propafenone treatment.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università degli Studi di Siena.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palazzuoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mondillo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faglia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Aprile
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camporeale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011405:Propafenone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011405:Propafenone; D002331:Carnitine