Curative effects of Levocarnitine on chronic congestive heart failure

Abstract

Objective To discuss influence and curative effects of Levocarnitine on serum B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP） and β-endorphin levels of old patients with chronic congestive heart failure （CHF）.Methods 86 patients with CHF were divided into the observation group and control group by random number table.The patients in the two groups were given routine anti-heart failure treatment,such as bed rest,oxygen uptake,low sodium diet,strong heart diuresis,dilation of blood vessels and etc.The patients in the observation group were additionally given 2.0g Levocarnitine by intravenous infusion once a day for 14 days.The changes of serum BNP and β-endorphin levels of patients in the two groups before and 14 days after medical treatment were observed,and clinical curative effect and untoward effect were compared as well.Results After 14 days medical treatment,the serum BNP and β-endorphin levels of patients in the two groups[（345.85 ±58.25）pg/mL,（120.84 ±25.13）pg/mL,（237.04 ±60.54）pg/mL, （92.08 ±26.17） pg/mL] obviously declined than before （405.28 ±83.07） pg/mL,（146.42 ±30.72） pg/mL, （410.23 ±75.12）pg/mL,（150.56 ±32.51）pg/mL]（t=2.24,2.31,3.18,2.96,P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）,and the declining rate in the observation group was much higher than that in the control group （t=2.41,2.28,all P〈0.05）. Meanwhile,total efficiency in the observation group （95.35%） was much higher than that in the control group （81.40%）（χ^2 =4.07,P〈0.05）.6 cases of untoward effect appeared on patients in the two groups during the medi-cal treatment,including 4 cases in the observation group and 2 cases in the control group with light symptom.After comparing the occurrence rates of untoward effect,no obvious statistical difference appeared （χ^2 =0.18,P〉0.05）. Conclusion Levocarnitine is a kind of adjunctive therapy （AT） drug to treat CHF,whose mechanism of action has close effect on reducing serum BNP andβ-endorphin levels and adjusting neuroendocrine hormone levels. Key words: Heart failure,congestive; Levocarnitine; β-Endorphin