The Effects of Mucolytic Agents N-Acetylcysteine and Erdosteine on Hemostasis in Humans

There are some indications in a few studies on animals and humans that the mucolytic agents N-acetylcysteine and erdosteine have a disruptive effect on the coagulation cascade. This study aimed to examine the effects of both erdosteine and N-acetylcysteine on the coagulation pathway.

The research was conducted on patients treated with N-acetylcysteine (600 mg/day) or erdosteine (600 mg/day) for 7-14 days. To evaluate the coagulation and hemogram parameters, blood samples were taken from patients before treatment and on days 7-14 after starting the treatment. Hemogram and coagulation parameters were measured in the venous blood samples.

The levels of factor II significantly decreased, and the platelet count significantly increased in patients treated with erdosteine. D-dimer levels reduced and factor VII levels increased in patients treated with N-acetylcysteine, but these changes were not significant (p=0.069 and p=0.062, respectively). Other coagulation and hemogram values did not change in both groups. Erdosteine may have a dualistic effect on the coagulation cascade through its different metabolites.