Abstract
L-Propionil Carnitine (LPC) is a propionic derivative of Carnitine. It enhances mitochondrial activity, fat acids and free radical metabolism; it could therefore prove effective in preventing chronic oxidative diseases such as Cavernous fibrosis, which results essentially from an increase in endothelin, and a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGEi), as it occurs with hypoxia.
An incidence of about 15% of segmentary cavernous fibrosis is reported as a consequence of, at least, a 72-hour catheterization. The physiopathology of the syndrome is still uncertain, but strongly related to vasculitis.
We carried out a 15-month double-blind, prospective, randomized placebo-control study on 240 patients (age range: 42–68 years) on the possibility of preventing fìbrosis through LPC; study follow-up at 6 months, drug dose: 2g/day p.o.
Cavernous fibrosis was reported in 11% of LPC treated patients, and 14% of the placebo group (p = l).
Any kind of prevention, even if with poor outcomes as in our experience, should be usefully considered and improved.
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