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N-acetylcysteine reduces methemoglobin in vitro
R O Wright1, B Magnani, M W Shannon
1Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. wright_r@a1.tch.harvard.edu
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|November 1, 1996
Summary
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) demonstrated a significant reduction in chemically induced methemoglobin levels in an in vitro setting. This finding suggests NAC
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Methemoglobinemia is a condition characterized by elevated levels of methemoglobin.
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant with potential therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in reducing methemoglobin levels.
- To evaluate NAC's effect on chemically induced methemoglobin in an in vitro model.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from healthy volunteers were divided into three groups: negative control, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-nitrite, and NAC-nitrite.
- Sodium nitrite was used to induce methemoglobin formation in the PBS-nitrite and NAC-nitrite groups.
- Methemoglobin levels were serially measured over 5.5 hours to assess the impact of NAC.
Main Results:
- NAC-treated samples showed a significant difference in methemoglobin levels compared to PBS-treated samples at 4.5 hours.
- The rate of methemoglobin decline was significantly faster in NAC-treated samples (10.7%/hour) versus PBS-treated samples (2.9%/hour).
- The decline in methemoglobin in NAC-treated samples followed a linear (zero-order) kinetic model.
Conclusions:
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively reduced chemically induced methemoglobin in an in vitro experimental model.
- These findings support the potential of NAC as an agent to mitigate methemoglobinemia.