Table 4

APACHE II and SOFA scores, cytokine levels, gastric intramucosal pH and gastric intramucosal carbon dioxide tension

Variable

Baseline

Immediately after NAC infusion

24 hours after NAC infusion

48 hours after NAC infusion

APACHE II score

NAC

13.14 ± 3.79

-

13.33 ± 3.83

12.74 ± 3.87

Control

15 ± 3.58

-

15.34 ± 3.30

15.69 ± 3.4

SOFA score

NAC

5.62 ± 2.52

5.55 ± 2.04

5.48 ± 2.57

5.48 ± 2.7

Control

6.53 ± 2.2

6.92 ± 2.59

7.15 ± 2.9

7.15 ± 2.86

Tumour necrosis factor-α (pg/ml)

NAC

25.58 ± 15.8

26.02 ± 16.1

22.68 ± 13.9

28.17 ± 26.8

Control

22.57 ± 28.2

24.90 ± 13.56

25.05 ± 21.8

28.25 ± 24.3

IL-1β (pg/ml)

NAC

6.68 ± 1.85

6.38 ± 1.07

5.91 ± 1.26

5.57 ± 1.62

Control

5.35 ± 1.32

5.09 ± 0.30

5.34 ± 1.01

5.11 ± 0.58

IL-2 receptor (U/ml)

NAC

1847 ± 1366

1918 ± 1450

1829 ± 1427

1816 ± 1806

Control

2288 ± 1503

2372 ± 1531

2382 ± 1599

2168 ± 843

IL-6 (pg/ml)

NAC

100.26 ± 88

100.22 ± 19.8

110.51 ± 37

100.38 ± 38

Control

115.85 ± 85

115.64 ± 19.8

113.86 ± 27

119.48 ± 38

IL-8 (pg/ml)

NAC

161.50 ± 55

161.6 ± 10.3

162.1 ± 12.4

168.8 ± 113

Control

172.95 ± 27

163.3 ± 28.4

169.6 ± 28.6

171.0 ± 31

Gastric intramucosal pH

NAC

8.41 ± 0.21

8.43 ± 0.22

8.43 ± 0.17

-

Control

8.26 ± 0.18

8.31 ± 0.16

7.45 ± 0.47

-

Gastric intramucosal carbon dioxide tension (mmHg)

NAC

67.2 ± 20.1

70.2 ± 15.6

69.0 ± 21.9

-

Control

68.7 ± 22.8

69.7 ± 23

68.9 ± 25.7

-

Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation. APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; IL, interleukin; NAC, N-acetyl-L-cysteine; SOFA, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment.

Emet et al. Critical Care 2004 8:R172   doi:10.1186/cc2866