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  • Title: Systemic, pulmonary, and hepatosplanchnic effects of N-acetylcysteine during long-term porcine endotoxemia.
    Author: Vassilev D, Hauser B, Bracht H, Iványi Z, Schoaff M, Asfar P, Vogt J, Wachter U, Schelzig H, Georgieff M, Brückner UB, Radermacher P, Fröba G.
    Journal: Crit Care Med; 2004 Feb; 32(2):525-32. PubMed ID: 14758174.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Controversial data have been reported on the effects of N-acetylcysteine in patients with septic shock. We therefore investigated the systemic, pulmonary, and hepatosplanchnic hemodynamic, gas exchange, and metabolic effects of N-acetylcysteine during long-term, volume-resuscitated, hyperdynamic porcine endotoxemia, which mimics the features of hyperdynamic human sepsis. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled experimental study. SETTING: Investigational animal laboratory. SUBJECTS: Eighteen pigs were randomized to receive endotoxin alone (controls, n = 9) or endotoxin plus N-acetylcysteine (n = 9). INTERVENTIONS: Anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and instrumented animals received continuous intravenous endotoxin and were resuscitated with hydroxyethylstarch to keep mean arterial pressure >60 mm Hg. After 12 hrs of endotoxemia, they were randomized to receive either placebo or N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg loading dose over 1 hr followed by 20 mg.kg-1.hr-1 for 11 hrs). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Before as well as 12, 18, and 24 hrs after starting the endotoxin infusion, systemic, pulmonary, and hepatosplanchnic hemodynamics, oxygen exchange, and metabolism as well as nitric oxide, glutathione, and 8-isoprostane concentrations were assessed. N-acetylcysteine failed to improve any of the variables of the systemic, pulmonary, or hepatosplanchnic hemodynamics, gas exchange, and metabolism. Although N-acetylcysteine significantly elevated glutathione concentration, it did not influence the 8-isoprostane concentrations and even further reduced hepatic venous pH. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increased glutathione concentration, N-acetylcysteine did not improve systemic, pulmonary, and hepatosplanchnic hemodynamics, oxygen exchange, and metabolism. When compared with previous reports in the literature, a different timing of N-acetylcysteine administration and/or an ongoing or even N-acetylcysteine-induced aggravation of oxidative stress may account for this result.
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