L-Carnitine Treatment in Patients with Mild Diastolic Heart Failure Is Associated with Improvement in Diastolic Function and Symptoms

Publisher： Karger

E-ISSN： 1421-9751|116|3|178-182

ISSN： 0008-6312

Source： Cardiology, Vol.116, Iss.3, 2010-07, pp. : 178-182

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Abstract

Objectives:L-Carnitine is a crucial component of activated fatty acid transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine on patients with a history of mild heart failure and diastolic dysfunction. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with a history of NYHA functional class II symptoms and ejection fraction >45% with documented grade 1 diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram were randomized in blinded fashion to receive 1,500 mg of L-carnitine daily for 3 months in comparison to a no treatment group (31 patients). Baseline echocardiographic and follow-up measurements of diastolic parameters were assessed after 3 months. Results: Important parameters of diastolic function improved in the L-carnitine group only: left atrial size (3.6 ± 0.4 cm before treatment vs. 3.4 ± 0.5 cm after treatment, p = 0.01); isovolemic relaxation time (127 ± 26 ms before vs. 113 ± 24 ms after treatment, p = 0.007); septal mitral E′ velocity (0.064 ± 0.01 m/s before vs. 0.074 ± 0.01 m/s after treatment, p = 0.01), and lateral mitral E velocity (0.082 ± 0.01 m/s before vs. 0.091 ± 0.02 m/s after treatment, p = 0.006). Dyspnea also significantly improved in L-carnitine-treated patients. Conclusion: In patients with a history of diastolic heart failure, important indices of diastolic function and symptoms appear to improve with L-carnitine treatment.