Use of L-Carnitine in Patients with Chronic Cerebral Ischemia

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to study the efficacy of L-carnitine in patients with stage 1–2 chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI). A comparative, parallel clinical trial included 60 patients (22 men, 38 woman, aged 41–74, mean 61.2 ± 8.2 years) with established diagnoses of stage 1–2 chronic cerebral ischemia. All patients received basal treatment for CCI including antihypertensive and antiaggregant agents. Group 1 included 20 patients given 1000 mg of L-carnitine per day (the biologically active additive Carnitone). Group 2 (20 patients) received the agent at a dose of 2000 mg/day. Group 3 (control group) received only basal treatment. Courses of treatment lasted 60 days. The frequency of complaints of weakness, reduced work capacity, memory degradation, headache, vertigo, and unsteadiness of gait decreased after completion of treatment. Statistically significant differences after treatment were seen in terms of the total MMSE points scores and in the “concentration of attention” and “memory” subscales; as compared with the baseline level, the durations of working with all five tables in the Schulte test decreased. Data from the asthenia MFI-20 questionnaire in patients of the study groups showed decreases in the levels of total, physical, and mental asthenization, with increases in activity and motivation level. The agent was found to have a dose-dependent effect.