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 stres s damage, in patients affected by peripheral arterial obliterative disease at class ii of Fontaine. The study was performed on 22 patients according t o a double-blind randomized design in parallel with placebo. The drug was a dministered at a dosage of I g three times a day orally for 90 days. Al rec ruitment and at the end of the study all patients underwent physical examin ation, treadmill test, doppler C.W, of the lower limbs, ankle/brachial inde x, dosage of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inh ibitor-1 (PAl-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-I activity and red blood c ell deformity was observed These data suggest the usefulness of propionyl-l -carnitine in the treatment of patients affected by peripheral arterial obl iterative disease.