Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine and rutin on the lipid peroxidation of the lung epithelium during the adult respiratory distress syndrome

• Published in: Shock (Augusta, Ga.) Ga.), 2000, Vol.13 (1), p.14-18
• Main Authors: ORTOLANI, O, CONTI, A, DE GAUDIO, A. R, MASONI, M, NOVELLI, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcysteine - administration & dosage; Acetylcysteine - therapeutic use; Adult; Aged; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; APACHE; Biological and medical sciences; Breath Tests; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Emergency and intensive respiratory care; Ethane - analysis; Female; Free Radical Scavengers - administration & dosage; Free Radical Scavengers - therapeutic use; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Glutathione - analysis; Glutathione Disulfide - analysis; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Intensive care medicine; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lung - drug effects; Lung - physiopathology; Male; Malondialdehyde - analysis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - drug therapy; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - mortality; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - physiopathology; Respiratory Mucosa - drug effects; Respiratory Mucosa - physiopathology; Rutin - administration & dosage; Rutin - therapeutic use; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1073-2322; 1540-0514
• DOI: 10.1097/00024382-200013010-00003

This study investigates the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and rutin on the lung oxidative burden of patients with early adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The protection was evaluated by measuring expired ethane and malondialdehyde (MDA), and oxidized (GSSG) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the epithelial lining fluid of 36 patients who developed ARDS less than 24 hours before enrollment in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups, receiving 250 mL 5% dextrose in water (group 1), NAC 50 mg/kg body weight in 5% dextrose (group 2), and NAC 50 mg/kg + rutin 5 mg/kg in 5% dextrose (group 3). Ethane and MDA concentrations were significantly reduced in the treatment groups after day 6. GSH was 30% increased in the treatment groups. No significant variations were observed in the control group until day 9. The trial confirms that NAC and rutin are efficient in protecting the lungs of patients with ARDS.