Summary
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is indispensable in mitochondrial bioenergetics and for human life to exist. 88/115 patients completed a trial of therapy with CoQ10 for cardiomyopathy. Patients were selected on the basis of clinical criteria,X-rays, electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and coronary angiography. Responses were monitored by ejection fractions, cardiac output, and improvements in functional classifications (NYHA). Of the 88 patients 75%–85% showed statistically significant increases in two monitored cardiac parameters. Patients with the lowest ejection fractions (approx. 10%–30%) showed the highest increases (115Δ%–210Δ%) and those with higher ejection fractions (50%–80%) showed increases of approx. 10Δ%–25Δ% on therapy. By functional classification, 17/21 in class IV, 52/62 in class III, and 4/5 in class II improved to lower classes. Clinical responses appeared over variable times, and are presumably based on mechanisms of DNA-RNA-protein synthesis of apoenzymes which restore levels of CoQ10 enzymes in a deficiency state. 10/21 (48%) of patients in class IV, 26/62 (42%) in class III, and 2/5 (40%) in class II had exceptionally low control blood levels of CoQ10. Clinical responses on therapy with CoQ10 appear maximal with blood levels of approx. 2.5 µg CoQ10/ml and higher during therapy.
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Abbreviations
- CHF:
-
Congestive heart failure
- CO:
-
Cardiac output
- CoQ10 :
-
Coenzyme Q10
- EF:
-
Ejection fraction
- IC:
-
Impedance cardiography
- NYHA:
-
New York Heart Association
- STI:
-
Systolic time interval
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Langsjoen, P.H., Folkers, K., Lyson, K. et al. Effective and safe therapy with coenzyme Q10 for cardiomyopathy. Klin Wochenschr 66, 583–590 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01720833
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01720833