Is there a place for N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of septic shock?

doi:10.1186/cc2450

Critical Care
Volume 8
Issue 2

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Commentary

Is there a place for N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of septic shock?

Lorenzo Del Sorbo¹ and Haibo Zhang²

¹Critical Care Research Fellow, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

²Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Department of Critical Care Medicine, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2004, 8:93-95doi:10.1186/cc2450


Published:	22 January 2004

See related Research article: http://ccforum.com/content/8/2/R66

Abstract

Excessive inflammatory responses and impaired oxygen utilization because of microcirculatory failure are implicated in septic shock. Recent studies have pointed out some beneficial effects in the treatment of septic shock of several vasodilators that exert anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine has been demonstrated to enhance cardiac performance, and to improve hepatosplanchnic perfusion and liver function in patients with established septic shock. These clinical observations may lead us to examine further the role of antioxidant agents in developing novel therapies for septic shock.