Role of L-carnitine in improving cardiac function and relieving myocardial ischemia in elderly patients with congestive heart failure

Objective:To observe the changes of cardiac function and myocardial ischemia of the elderly patients with congestive heart failure(CHF) after treated with L-carnitine.Methods:Sixty-seven elderly patients with CHF were randomized into control group(32 cases) and L-carnitine group(35 cases).All of the patients received basic treatment with digitalis,loop diuretic,nitrates for dilating blood vessels and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor according to heart failure treatment guideline.The patients in L-carnitine group additionally received L-carnitine 2 g/dose intravenous drip qd for two weeks and the therapy was repeated 3 months later.Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),electrocardiogram(ECG) and remission of chest distress were recorded and compared before and after the treatment in two groups.Results:After the treatment,lead number of depressed ST segment(NST) and ∑depressed ST segment(∑ST) of the patients in L-carnitine group were significantly decreased(P0.01 or P0.05) and the LVEF was increased significantly(P0.01) compared with those in control group.The differences of remission of chest distress were significant between the two groups(P0.01).Conclusion:The combination treatment with L-carnitine is effective in improvement of cardiac function and relief of myocardial ischemia in elderly patients with CHF.