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Clinical Trial
. 2003 Dec;9(12):2698-700.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i12.2698.

N-acetyl cysteine therapy in acute viral hepatitis

Huseyin Gunduz  1 , Oguz Karabay, Ali Tamer, Resat Ozaras, Ali Mert, Omer Fehmi Tabak
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

N-acetyl cysteine therapy in acute viral hepatitis

Huseyin Gunduz et al. World J Gastroenterol. 2003 Dec.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on acute viral hepatitis (AVH).

Methods: We administered 200 mg oral NAC three times daily (600 mg/day) to the study group and placebo capsules to the control group. All patients were hospitalized and diagnosed as AVH. Blood total and direct bilirubin, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, albumin and globulin levels of each patient were measured twice weekly until total bilirubin level dropped under 2 mg/dl, ALT level under 100 U/L, follow up was continued and then the patients were discharged.

Results: A total of 41(13 female and 28 male) AVH patients were included in our study. The period for normalization of ALT and total bilirubin in the study group was 19.7+/-6.9 days and 13.7 +/- 8.5 days respectively. In the control group it was 20.4 +/- 6.5 days and 16.9 +/- 7.8 days respectively (P>0.05).

Conclusion: NAC administration effected neither the time necessary for normalization of ALT and total bilirubin values nor duration of hospitalization, so we could not suggest NAC for the treatment of icteric AVH cases. However, our results have shown that this drug is not harmful to patients with AVH.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in averages of ALT values in the study and control groups in time.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in averages of AST values in the study and control groups in time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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