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

Yoon, Chang Jun; Moon, Ki Hak

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.