Effects of propionyl-L-carnitine on peripheral arterial obliterative disease of the lower limbs: a double-blind clinical trial.
The authors evaluated the efficacy of propionyl-l-carnitine, a drug able to reduce peripheral resistance and protect the cells against oxidative stress damage, in patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease at class II of Fontaine. The study was performed on 22 patients according to a double-blind, randomized design in parallel with placebo. The drug was administered at a dosage of 1 g three times a day orally for 90 days. At recruitment and at the end of the study all patients underwent physical examination, treadmill test, doppler C.W. of the lower limbs, ankle/brachial index, dosage of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), hematocrit, hematic filtration, and viscosity. In the group treated with propionyl-l-carnitine a statistically significant increase of claudication distance, blood flow velocity, PAI-1 activity and red blood cell deformity was observed. These data suggest the usefulness of propionyl-l-carnitine in the treatment of patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease.
Dal Lago
A
A
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Chair of Internal Medicine, Rome, Italy.
De Martini
D
D
Flore
R
R
Gaetani
E
E
Gasbarrini
A
A
Gerardino
L
L
Pola
R
R
Santoliquido
A
A
Serricchio
M
M
Tondi
P
P
Nolfe
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D010919:Placebos; C003223:propionylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine