Portal and systemic haemodynamic action of N-acetylcysteine in patients with stable cirrhosis.
The effects of intravenous N-acetylcysteine on hepatic and systemic haemodynamics were investigated in 11 patients with stable cirrhosis (eight alcohol; two primary biliary cirrhosis; one cryptogenic). N-acetylcysteine administration had no effect on the mean heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure despite a significant fall in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. Cardiac index increased but estimated liver blood flow and portal venous pressure did not change significantly. Administration of N-acetylcysteine resulted in increased oxygen delivery to the tissues because of the increased cardiac index but this was not accompanied by a rise in either arteriovenous oxygen extraction ratio or mean tissue oxygen consumption. Therefore N-acetylcysteine administration seems to confer no haemodynamic benefit to patients with cirrhosis.
Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
A L
AL
Jones
I H
IH
Bangash
I A
IA
Bouchier
P C
PC
Hayes
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011168:Portal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D000111:Acetylcysteine