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. 1994 Sep;35(9):1290–1293. doi: 10.1136/gut.35.9.1290

Portal and systemic haemodynamic action of N-acetylcysteine in patients with stable cirrhosis.

A L Jones 1, I H Bangash 1, I A Bouchier 1, P C Hayes 1
PMCID: PMC1375710  PMID: 7959240

Abstract

The effects of intravenous N-acetylcysteine on hepatic and systemic haemodynamics were investigated in 11 patients with stable cirrhosis (eight alcohol; two primary biliary cirrhosis; one cryptogenic). N-acetylcysteine administration had no effect on the mean heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure despite a significant fall in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. Cardiac index increased but estimated liver blood flow and portal venous pressure did not change significantly. Administration of N-acetylcysteine resulted in increased oxygen delivery to the tissues because of the increased cardiac index but this was not accompanied by a rise in either arteriovenous oxygen extraction ratio or mean tissue oxygen consumption. Therefore N-acetylcysteine administration seems to confer no haemodynamic benefit to patients with cirrhosis.

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Selected References

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