title: Comparison of N-acetylcysteine and methylene blue, alone or in combination, for treatment of acetaminophen toxicosis in cats.
abstract: Acetaminophen is widely used in human beings for analgesic purposes, but is one of the most frequent causes of poisoning in cats. Acetaminophen-poisoned cats develop methemoglobinemia and sometimes hepatic failure. To determine the benefit of using methylene blue, a treatment for methemoglobinemia, along with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), the recommended treatment for acetaminophen-poisoned cats, groups of 3 male and 3 female cats each were given methylene blue NAC, or both after administration of acetaminophen (120 mg/kg of body weight, PO). Male cats seemed more susceptible than female cats to acetaminophen toxicosis, because 3 males died of hepatic failure (2 cats given acetaminophen/methylene blue and 1 given acetaminophen/NAC/methylene blue). Although NAC alone seemed to elicit the best overall response, methylene blue, alone or in combination with NAC, may be useful in female cats.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Toxicology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-5606, USA.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Rumbeiha
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Oehme
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases; D002415:Cats; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000662:veterinary*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008751:Methylene Blue; D000111:Acetylcysteine