title: N-acetylcysteine infusion improves hepatic perfusion in the early stages of systemic sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of our study is to evaluate portal and hepatic hemodynamic changes after N-acetylcysteine infusion in patients with systemic sclerosis. In an open-label study 40 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were treated with 15 mg/kg/hour intravenous N-acetylcysteine for 5 consecutive hours in a single day. Hepatic flow volume, congestion index, portal flow volume, resistance index and pulse rate index were measured in each subject before and after infusion. In all patients mean hepatic flow volume (HFV) and mean portal flow volume (PFV) values after the five-hour infusion with NAC increased not significantly. In 22 selected patients with active capillaroscopic pattern, modified Rodnan Total Skin Score (mRTSS)<18 and mild-moderate score to vascular domain of disease severity scale (DSS), mean HFV increased significantly when compared with mean HFV of 18 SSc patients with late capillaroscopic pattern, mRTSS>18 and severe-end stage score to vascular domain of DSS. The results of our study demonstrate that NAC is able to increase HFV and total liver perfusion after a single infusion in SSc patients with low disease activity and severity scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menghi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cianci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pisarri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salsano
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000111:Acetylcysteine