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Therapeutic effect of N-acetylcysteine on chemotherapy-induced liver injury

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Abstract

Background

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be useful in the management of chemotherapy-induced liver injury.

Aims

The present study evaluates the possible therapeutic effects of NAC on chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods

A total of 102 patients’ files who were diagnosed with cancer between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Two patient groups with and without NAC were selected. NAC was administered in a 3-μg/kg IV dose in a 24-h infusion to 70 patients when any alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) values reached three times the normal levels. The other group consisted of 32 patients who were not treated with NAC. Alanine aminotransferase and GGT values were recorded at pretreatment, and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days in both the NAC and non-NAC groups from files.

Results

In the NAC group, ALT and GGT values on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 differed from each other, decreasing from day 1 to day 7. A statistically significant difference was noted between the values in the NAC group (p < 0.001). In the non-NAC group, the ALT values on day 7 were lower than the ALT values on day 1. A comparison of the ALT and GGT values in the NAC and non-NAC groups found that the values in the NAC group decreased earlier than in the non-NAC group.

Conclusions

This study shows that NAC has a therapeutic effect on hepatotoxicity in children being treated with chemotherapeutic agents due to underlying malign diseases. The early reduction in the results of liver function tests is important for the continuation of chemotherapy.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Karadeniz Technical University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital, 06080, Ankara, Turkey

    Nilgun Eroglu

  2. Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey

    Erol Erduran, Gokce Pinar Reis & Aysenur Bahadır

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  1. Nilgun Eroglu
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  2. Erol Erduran
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  4. Aysenur Bahadır
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Correspondence to Nilgun Eroglu.

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Eroglu, N., Erduran, E., Reis, G.P. et al. Therapeutic effect of N-acetylcysteine on chemotherapy-induced liver injury. Ir J Med Sci 189, 1189–1194 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02219-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02219-1

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