title: Efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine in Preventing Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-Analysis Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether perioperative N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration reduces the risk of cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature review (Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, Biomedical central, Google Scholar) identified 10 studies (1391 patients; 695 NAC and 696 placebo) that compared the efficacy and adverse effects of perioperative NAC administration for CSA-AKI prevention in adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the NAC-treated and placebo groups had similar rate of CSA-AKI occurrence, change in creatinine levels, as well as the in-hospital mortality rate (RR = 0.841, 95% CI = 0.691 to 1.023, p = 0.083; pooled difference in means = -0.328, 95% CI = -0.712 to 0.056, p = 0.094; RR = 0.741, 95% CI = 0.388 to 1.418, p = 0.366, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study does not support perioperative NAC administration as a mean to reduce the risk of CSA-AKI.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kidney , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400038 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kidney , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400038 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kidney , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400038 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qian-Guang
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kidney , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400038 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: You-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kidney , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400038 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mao-Zhi
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kidney , Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400038 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bing-Bing
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D003404:Creatinine; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: N-acetylcysteine; acute kidney injury/kidney injury; cardiac surgery/heart surgery; coronary artery bypass; creatinine; meta-analysis