title: Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathies in HIV+ patients.
abstract: We studied the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on pain in 16 HIV+ patients affected by painful distal symmetrical neuropathy. Patients were treated with 0.5-1 gr per day of acetyl-L-carnitine either i.m. or i.v. for 3 weeks. Pain intensity was measured before and after the treatment by the Huskisson's analogic scale. Ten patients (62.5%) reported an improvement of symptoms, five patients (31.25%) were unchanged, one patient worsened. The results of this open study show that acetyl-L-carnitine can have a role in the treatment of pain in distal symmetrical polyneuropathy related to HIV infection. However, further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology, IRCCS-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacilotto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cusini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarlato
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D000108:Acetylcarnitine