Neuromuscular DiseasesNeuromuscular DiseasesНервно-мышечные болезни2222-87212413-0443Publishing House ABV Press3210.17650/2222-8721-2014-0-4-12-19LECTURES AND REVIEWSЛЕКЦИИ И ОБЗОРЫL-Acetylcarnitine in dysthymic disorder in elderly patients: a double-blind, multicenter, controlled randomized study vs. fluoxetineАцетил-L-карнитин при дистимических расстройствах в пожилом возрасте: двойное слепое, мультицентровое, контролируемое рандомизированное исследование в сравнении с флуоксетиномBersaniaGiuseppe
Russian Federation
giuseppe.bersani@uniroma1.itMecoGiuseppe
Russian Federation
DenaroAlessandro
Russian Federation
LiberatiDamien
Russian Federation
CollettiChiara
Russian Federation
NicolaiRaffaella
Russian Federation
BersaniaFrancesco Saverio
Russian Federation
KoverechAleardo
Russian Federation
Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, ItalyDepartment of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, ItalyDepartment of Neuromotor Rehabilitation, Istituto Chirurgico Ortopedico Traumatologico (ICOT), Latina, ItalyCorporate R&D Sigma-Tau S.p.A., Pomezia, ItalyCarnitine Development Dept., Sigma-Tau S.p.A., Pomezia, Italy191220144412191902201519022015Copyright ©; 2014, Bersania G., Meco G., Denaro A., Liberati D., Colletti C., Nicolai R., Bersania F., Koverech A.Copyright ©; 2014, Bersania G., Meco G., Denaro A., Liberati D., Colletti C., Nicolai R., Bersania F., Koverech A.2014Bersania G., Meco G., Denaro A., Liberati D., Colletti C., Nicolai R., Bersania F., Koverech A.Bersania G., Meco G., Denaro A., Liberati D., Colletti C., Nicolai R., Bersania F., Koverech A.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0https://nmb.abvpress.ru/jour/article/view/32

Introduction. L-Acetylcarnitine (LAC), the acetyl ester of carnitine naturally present in the central nervous system and involved in several neural pathways, has been demonstrated to be active in various animal experimental models resembling some features of human depression. The aim of the study is to verify whether LAC can have an antidepressant action in a population of elderly patients with dysthymic disorder in comparison with a traditional antidepressant such as fluoxetine.

Methods. Multicentric, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled, randomized study based on a observation period of 7 weeks. 80 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of dysthymic disorder were enrolled in the study and subdivided into 2 groups. Group A patients received LAC plus placebo; group B patients received fluoxetine 20 mg/die plus placebo. Clinical assessment was performed through several psychometric scales at 6 different moments.

Results. Group A patients showed a statistically significant improvement in the following scales: HAM-D, HAM-A, BDI and Touluse–Pieron Test. Comparison between the two groups, A and B, generally showed very similar clinical progression.

Discussion. The results obtained with LAC and fluoxetine were equivalent. As the subjects in this study were of senile age, it is possible to hypothesize that the LAC positive effect on mood could be associated with improvement in subjective cognitive symptomatology. The difference in the latency time of clinical response (1 week of LAC treatment, compared with the 2 weeks' latency time with fluoxetine) suggests the existence of different mechanisms of action possibly in relation to the activation of rapid support processes of neuronal activity.

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