Tamoxifen Only versus L-Carnitine and Tamoxifen in the Oral Therapy of Peyronie's Disease / 대한남성과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of oral Tamoxifen only versus L-Carnitine plus Tamoxifen in patients with Peyronie's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All 45 patients with Peyronie's disease, diagnosed using accepted definitions, were randomized into two groups and treated for 3 months with Tamoxifen only(40 mg/day)(n=17) or a combination ofL-Carnitine(2 g/day) and Tamoxifen(40 mg/day)(n=28). A medical history was obtained, and a physical examination was performed. Plaque size, pain, erectile function(IIEF score), and penile curvature were assessed. Both before and after therapy, the differences between the 2 groups were compared using independent-sample t-test with p<0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the 45 patients was 52.1 years, and no severe adverse events occurred in either group. In the Tamoxifen only group, the mean decrease of plaque-length was 0.46+/-0.88 mm, and mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 0.44+/-0.53. In the L-Carnitine and Tamoxifen group, mean decrease of plaque-length was 1.57+/-0.92 mm, and mean reduction in the pain rating scale was 1.27+/-0.96. Based on IIEF scores, the improvement of erectile function was 0.88+/-0.64 in the Tamoxifen only group and 1.56+/-0.75 in the L-Carnitine and Tamoxifen group. The degree of penile curvature was also measured, and the reduction of curvature angle was 9.17+/-4.92 degrees in the Tamoxifen only group and 9.55+/-6.50 degrees in the L-Carnitine and Tamoxifen group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significantly greater improvements in plaque size, pain, erectile function, and curvature in patients with Peyronie's disease who were treated with L-Carnitine and Tamoxifen compared with those treated with Tamoxifen only.