[Glutathione and N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of free-radical damage in the initial phase of septic shock]

Abstract

The hyperproduction of oxygen free radicals (OFR) and the weakening of natural scavenging mechanisms are implicated in endothelial damage and in multiple organ failure during septic shock. Many authors have proposed the use of antioxidants to decrease OFR damage. Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most important endogenous antioxidants. It plays the role of a sulphydryl group provider for scavenging reactions. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an artificial precursor of GSH which both increases GSH levels and acts as OFR scavenger. The authors carried out a clinical trial to confirm the capacity of high doses of GSH and NAC to cooperate in reducing lipoperoxidative damage in patients with early septic shock. Patients were divided into three groups who received shock therapy only or shock therapy plus GSH or shock therapy plus GSH plus NAC. OFR damage was evaluated by measuring expired ethane, plasma malondialdehyde, complement activation and clinical scores. The study demonstrated that the group who received GSH and NAC showed a significant decrease in peroxidative indexes and an improvement of the clinical scores if compared with the other two groups. In conclusion the administration of high doses of NAC added to GSH significantly decreases the peroxidative stress of patients with early septic shock.