Table 1.
Effects of compartment syndrome with or without N-acetylcysteine on muscle contractility and myeloperoxidase activity
| Group | Experiment time after release of CS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 24 hours | 7 days | |
| Twitch contraction (g of force) | |||
| Control group | 204 ± 18.6 | 108.5 ± 11.5 | 154.7 ± 14.1 |
| CS group | 59.9 ± 8.3 (p < 0.001 vs control) | 50.4 ± 7.7 (p = 0.026 vs control) | 28.1 ± 5.5 (p < 0.001 vs control) |
| CS + NAC group | 123.5 ± 11.6 (p = 0.021 vs CS) | 134.3 ± 10.4 (p < 0.001 vs CS) | 118.2 ± 22.9 (p = 0.010 vs CS) |
| CS + NACd group | 112.9 ± 18.1 (p < 0.001 vs CS) | ||
| Tetanic contraction (g of force) | |||
| Control group | 629.9 ± 43.4 | 455.3 ± 23.3 | 362 ± 37.2 |
| CS group | 328.5 ± 23.1 (p < 0.001 vs control) | 225.7 ± 21.6 (p < 0.001 vs control) | 59.7 ± 12.1 (p < 0.001 vs control) |
| CS + NAC group | 552 ± 29.4 (p < 0.001 vs CS) | 408.3 ± 34.3 (p < 0.001 vs CS) | 256.3 ± 37 (p < 0.001 vs CS) |
| CS + NACd group | 402.4 ± 52 (p = 0.006 vs CS) | ||
| Myeloperoxidase activity (units/g tissue) | |||
| Control group | 6 ± 0.4 | 15.8 ± 1.3 | |
| CS group | 11.5 ± 1.1 (p < 0.001 vs control) | 54.2 ± 7.7 (p < 0.001 vs control) | |
| CS + NAC group | 11.4 ± 1.5 (p < 0.001 vs control) | 24.6 ± 5.4 (p = 0.002 vs CS) | |
| CS + NACd group | 22.9 ± 1.9 (p < 0.001 vs CS) | ||
Values are expressed as mean ± SD; control = control group; CS = compartment syndrome; CS + NAC = group given N-acetylcysteine before CS; CS + NACd = group given N-acetylcysteine at CS decompression.