N-acetylcysteine as adjunctive treatment in severe malaria: a randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Markers of oxidative stress are reported to be increased in severe malaria. It has been suggested that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be beneficial in treatment. We studied the efficacy and safety of parenteral NAC as an adjunct to artesunate treatment of severe falciparum malaria.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the use of high-dose intravenous NAC as adjunctive treatment to artesunate.


METHODS
A provincial hospital in Western Thailand and a tertiary referral hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh.


METHODS
One hundred eight adult patients with severe falciparum malaria.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive NAC or placebo as an adjunctive treatment to intravenous artesunate.


RESULTS
A total of 56 patients were treated with NAC and 52 received placebo. NAC had no significant effect on mortality, lactate clearance times (p = 0.74), or coma recovery times (p = 0.46). Parasite clearance time was increased from 30 hours (range, 6-144 hours) to 36 hours (range, 6-120 hours) (p = 0.03), but this could be explained by differences in admission parasitemia. Urinary F2-isoprostane metabolites, measured as a marker of oxidative stress, were increased in severe malaria compared with patients with uncomplicated malaria and healthy volunteers. Admission red cell rigidity correlated with mortality, but did not improve with NAC.


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic oxidative stress is increased in severe malaria. Treatment with NAC had no effect on outcome in patients with severe falciparum malaria in this setting.
Charunwatthana
Prakaykaew
P
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abul Faiz
M
M
Ruangveerayut
Ronnatrai
R
Maude
Richard J
RJ
Rahman
M Ridwanur
MR
Roberts
L Jackson
LJ
Moore
Kevin
K
Bin Yunus
Emran
E
Hoque
M Gofranul
MG
Hasan
Mahatab Uddin
MU
Lee
Sue J
SJ
Pukrittayakamee
Sasithon
S
Newton
Paul N
PN
White
Nicholas J
NJ
Day
Nicholas P J
NP
Dondorp
Arjen M
AM
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D001459:Bangladesh; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D010919:Placebos; D000077332:Artesunate; D000111:Acetylcysteine