L E Schmidt1, K Dalhoff. 1. Department of Hepatology A and Department of Clinical Pharmacology Q, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. lars.Schmidt@dadlnet.dk
Abstract
AIMS: To identify risk factors in the development of side-effects to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients with paracetamol poisoning. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out based upon the hospital charts of 529 consecutive patients admitted with paracetamol poisoning, all treated with NAC, at the Department of Hepatology, Copenhagen University Hospital (the tertiary care centre of liver disease in Denmark). RESULTS: Forty-five patients (8.5%; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 6.4, 11%) developed side-effects to NAC and 18 patients (3.4%; 95% CI 2.1, 5.4%) developed systemic side-effects. Asthmatics were 2.9 times (95% CI 2.1, 4.7) more likely to develop side-effects (Chi-square: P = 0.004). Side-effects were of similar severity in asthmatics and nonasthmatics. A history of medical allergy was not a risk factor. Serum paracetamol was lower in patients with side-effects than in those without (Mann-Whitney: P = 0.00006). CONCLUSIONS: Asthma must be considered a risk factor in the development of side-effects to NAC. However, the side-effects are easily managed and there is no reason to withhold NAC from any patient with paracetamol poisoning. Paracetamol itself seems to offer some protection against the development of side-effects to NAC.
AIMS: To identify risk factors in the development of side-effects to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients with paracetamolpoisoning. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out based upon the hospital charts of 529 consecutive patients admitted with paracetamolpoisoning, all treated with NAC, at the Department of Hepatology, Copenhagen University Hospital (the tertiary care centre of liver disease in Denmark). RESULTS: Forty-five patients (8.5%; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 6.4, 11%) developed side-effects to NAC and 18 patients (3.4%; 95% CI 2.1, 5.4%) developed systemic side-effects. Asthmatics were 2.9 times (95% CI 2.1, 4.7) more likely to develop side-effects (Chi-square: P = 0.004). Side-effects were of similar severity in asthmatics and nonasthmatics. A history of medical allergy was not a risk factor. Serum paracetamol was lower in patients with side-effects than in those without (Mann-Whitney: P = 0.00006). CONCLUSIONS: Asthma must be considered a risk factor in the development of side-effects to NAC. However, the side-effects are easily managed and there is no reason to withhold NAC from any patient with paracetamolpoisoning. Paracetamol itself seems to offer some protection against the development of side-effects to NAC.
Authors: Mark Yarema; Puja Chopra; Marco L A Sivilotti; David Johnson; Alberto Nettel-Aguirre; Benoit Bailey; Charlemaigne Victorino; Sophie Gosselin; Roy Purssell; Margaret Thompson; Daniel Spyker; Barry Rumack Journal: J Med Toxicol Date: 2018-02-08
Authors: Erin A McClure; Susan C Sonne; Theresa Winhusen; Kathleen M Carroll; Udi E Ghitza; Aimee L McRae-Clark; Abigail G Matthews; Gaurav Sharma; Paul Van Veldhuisen; Ryan G Vandrey; Frances R Levin; Roger D Weiss; Robert Lindblad; Colleen Allen; Larissa J Mooney; Louise Haynes; Gregory S Brigham; Steve Sparenborg; Albert L Hasson; Kevin M Gray Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2014-08-30 Impact factor: 2.226