N-acetylcysteine for hepatic veno-occlusive disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Three patients developed veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. On the day after diagnosis, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was given, initially in loading doses and thereafter 50-150 mg/kg/day for 12 to 31 days. The maximum bilirubin levels were 137, 58 and 138 mmol/l in the three patients, respectively. After the introduction of NAC, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, sIL-2 receptor and IL-8 decreased. All three patients achieved normal bilirubin levels and prothrombin times. To conclude, NAC may be useful for treatment of VOD.
Ringdén
O
O
Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
Remberger
M
M
Lehmann
S
S
Hentschke
P
P
Mattsson
J
J
Klaesson
S
S
Aschan
J
J
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006504:Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D016207:Cytokines; D000111:Acetylcysteine