Effects of propionyl-carnitine in patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral vascular disease: results of a pilot trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of propionyl-carnitine (PC) in patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).


METHODS
This was an open pharmacodynamic study. Twenty-four obese patients with type 2 diabetes and PAD (stage IIb) were enrolled in the study. After an initial run-in period of 7 days on a low-calorie diet (1600 +/- 150 kcal/day), patients received intravenous PC (600mg in 100mL saline solution Na/K 0.9%) twice daily for 10 days (T1).


RESULTS
Treatment with PC produced statistically significant increases in maximal walking distance (30%; p < 0.05) and initial claudication distance (15%; p < 0.05) in 15 and eight patients, respectively. In addition, a decrease in dosage of oral antihyperglycaemic agents was observed in 21 patients at T1. No PC-related adverse effects were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that acute intravenous administration of PC in patients with type 2 diabetes with PAD improved PAD-related symptoms as well as glycaemic control.
Ragozzino
Giovanni
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Methodology and Medical Angiology, Second University of Naples, Italy. giovanni.ragozzino@unina2.it
Mattera
Edi
E
Madrid
Elisa
E
Salomone
Patrizia
P
Fasano
Carmela
C
Gioia
Filomena
F
Acerra
Giusy
G
del Guercio
Raffaele
R
Federico
Pasquale
P
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C003223:propionylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine