Where are we with the use of N-acetylcysteine as a preventive and adjuvant treatment for COVID-19?
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
; 26(2): 715-721, 2022 Jan.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1675570
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
As N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is promising as a re-purposed drug for the adjunctive or supportive treatment of serious COVID-19, this article aimed to describe current evidence. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A search was performed in PubMed/Medline for "NAC", "viral Infection", COVID-19", oxidative stress", "inflammation", retrieving preclinical and clinical studies.RESULTS:
NAC is a pleiotropic molecule with a dual antioxidant mechanism; it may neutralize free radicals and acts as a donor of cysteine, restoring the physiological pool of GSH. Serious COVID-19 patients have increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals and often present with glutathione depletion, which prompts a cytokine storm. NAC, which acts as a precursor of GSH inside cells, has been currently used in many conditions to restore or protect against GSH depletion and has a wide safety margin. In addition, NAC has anti-inflammatory activity independently of its antioxidant activity.CONCLUSIONS:
Clinical and experimental data suggest that NAC may act on the mechanisms leading to the prothrombotic state observed in severe COVID-19.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Acetylcysteine
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
/
Reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
Journal subject:
Pharmacology
/
Toxicology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Eurrev_202201_27898
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