Levocarnitine administration in multiple sclerosis patients with immunosuppressive therapy-induced fatigue

Mult Scler. 2006 Jun;12(3):321-4. doi: 10.1191/135248506ms1275oa.

Abstract

Nutritional factors and comedications are among the postulated causes of fatigue, a highly prevalent symptom in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population, with serious impact on patients' quality of life. Deficiency of carnitine may play a role by reducing energy production through fatty acid oxidation and numerous MS therapies can induce fatigue syndrome. The aim of this prospective open-labelled study was to collect and study serum carnitine levels in MS patients with and without disease-modifying treatment-induced fatigue syndrome. We investigated whether restoration of the carnitine pool might improve treatment-induced fatigue in MS patients. In our study, there was no statistical difference in fatigue frequency between treated and untreated patients (P=0.5). Matched to age, gender and treatments, carnitine levels were lower for MS treated patients compared to untreated MS patients (P <0.05) or controls (P <0.001). Consecutive patients with low plasma carnitine levels who experienced fatigue were substituted. Treatment consisted of oral levocarnitine, 3-6 g daily. All patients achieved normal plasma carnitine levels. For 63% of patients treated with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies, oral levocarnitine adjunction decreased fatigue intensity, especially in patients treated with cyclophosphamide and interferon beta.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcarnitine / administration & dosage*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Fatigue / chemically induced
  • Fatigue / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Interferons / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitoxantrone / administration & dosage
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
  • Nootropic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Acetylcarnitine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Interferons
  • Mitoxantrone