Effectiveness of acetylcysteine on preventing renal dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary procedures

Shereif H Rezkalla1, Michele Benz

  • 1Marshfield Clinic, Department of Cardiology, Marshfield, Wis, USA. rezkalla.shereif@marshfieldclinic.org

Insights

Acetylcysteine preserves kidney function in patients undergoing coronary procedures. This study shows its benefit in routine clinical practice for patients with renal dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Experimental studies suggest acetylcysteine benefits kidney function during cardiac procedures.
  • The role of acetylcysteine in routine clinical practice for renal protection is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of acetylcysteine in preserving kidney function in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary procedures in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study comparing 75 patients receiving acetylcysteine with 56 control patients undergoing coronary procedures.
  • All patients exhibited pre-existing renal dysfunction.
  • Procedures were performed by a single operator.

Main Results:

  • The acetylcysteine group showed a decrease in serum creatinine (-0.1 +/- 0.3 mg/dl) compared to a rise in the control group (0.2 +/- 0.6 mg/dl).
  • The beneficial effect of acetylcysteine on kidney function was observed across all degrees of renal dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Acetylcysteine, in addition to hydration, should be routinely adopted in clinical practice for patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary procedures.
  • This intervention is recommended for routine use in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Abstract

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