Open AccessBenefit of N-Acetylcysteine in Postoperative Hepatic Dysfunction: Case Report and Review of Literature
Author(s) -
Deanna K. Bauerlein,
Hashem Akbar,
Erik C. von Rosenvinge,
Nora Loughry,
Preeti R. John
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
case reports in hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2090-6587
pISSN - 2090-6595
DOI - 10.1155/2019/4730381
Subject(s) - acetylcysteine , acetaminophen , scavenger , detoxification (alternative medicine) , free radical scavenger , medicine , glutathione , antidote , antioxidant , etiology , toxicity , liver dysfunction , pharmacology , radical , acetaminophen overdose , anesthesia , gastroenterology , oxidative stress , chemistry , biochemistry , pathology , enzyme , alternative medicine
N -Acetylcysteine (NAC) is reported to have multiple clinical applications in addition to being the specific antidote for acetaminophen toxicity. NAC stimulates glutathione biosynthesis, promotes detoxification, and acts directly as a scavenger of free radicals. It is a powerful antioxidant and a potential treatment option for diseases characterized by the generation of free oxygen radicals. We present a case of postoperative hepatic dysfunction of multifactorial etiology in a patient with therapeutic acetaminophen levels, where hepatic function improved considerably following administration of intravenous NAC. This case suggests that NAC should be considered for treatment of acute liver dysfunction in the postoperative setting, even in the absence of elevated acetaminophen levels.