Table 3.

Clinical studies with NAC in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Patient Information	Intervention	Outcome	Ref.
Pts (47 M and 28 F, YOA: 50–78) with STEMI	NAC i.v. 29 g with NTG i.v. 7.2 mg over 2 days	Reduced infarct size in patients with STEMI undergoing PCI	[34]
Pts (total 28 M and F, YOA: ≤ 75) with AMI	NAC i.v. 15 g for over 24 h combined with NTG and streptokinase	Appeared to be safe for the treatment of evolving AMI and was associated with significantly less oxidative stress, a trend toward more rapid reperfusion, and better preservation of LV function	[35]
Pts (3 M and 19 F, YOA: 42–66) with AMI	NAC i.v. 15 g NAC for over 24 h combined with streptokinase	Diminished oxidative stress and improved LV function	[36]
Pts (19 M and 11 F, YOA: 55–61) with LVEF > 40% undergoing CABG	NAC i.v. 50 mg/kg b.w. with cold-blood cardioplegia	Minimized myocardial injury in the early hours after and during cardiac surgery	[37]
Pts (35 M, YOA: 59–63) with normal myocardial function undergone CABG	NAC i.v. 0.04 mol/L with Plegisol	Increased tissue capacity against oxidative stress and decreased inflammatory response	[38]
Pts (32 M and 14 F, YOA: 40–73) with severe unstable angina pectoris unresponsive to conventional treatment	NAC i.v. 5 g over 15 min after NTG and repeated every 6 h for 24 h.	Lowered incidence of AMI but increased symptomatic hypotension	[39]

NAC: N-acetylcysteine; Pts: patients; M: male; F: female; YOA: year of age; mg: milligram; kg: kilogram; h: hour; Ref: references; i.v.: intravenous infusion; STEMI: ST elevated myocardial infarction; NTG: nitroglycerin; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; AMI: acute myocardial infarction; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; b.w.: body weight.