Acute effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on regional cerebral blood flow in patients with brain ischaemia.

Ten male patients with brain ischaemia were studied. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured in the resting condition and 1 h after intravenous infusion of 1500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine. rCBF values were compared to those of a control population of the same age decade by a computer mapping system of our own design, which enables rapid visual inspection of cerebral blood flood values distribution and of statistical significance of differences. Beneficial effects of the drug were observed in at least four patients, especially in the affected hemisphere, in another four, rCBF elevations in the areas which were lowest on resting examination were observed, which was paralleled by reductions in surrounding zones. In two patients no modification of rCBF values after acetylcarnitine was seen.