Evaluation of N-acetylcysteine and methylprednisolone as therapies for oxygen and acrolein-induced lung damage

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 UTC 1990 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3430669· OSTI ID:6034667

Critchley, J A.J.H. ^[1]; Beeley, J M; Clark, R J; Buchanan, J D ^[2]; Summerfield, M; Bell, S ^[3]; Spurlock, M S; Edginton, J A.G. ^[4]

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1. Univ. of Edinburgh (England)
2. Royal Naval Hospital Hoslar, Gosport (England)
3. Admiralty Research Establishment, Alverstoke (England)
4. Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down (England)

Reactive oxidizing species are implicated in the etiology of a range of inhalational pulmonary injuries. Consequently, various free radical scavengers have been tested as potential prophylactic agents. The sulfydryl compound, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the only such compound clinically available for use in realistic dosages, and it is well established as an effective antidote for the hepatic and renal toxicity of paracetamol. Another approach in pulmonary injury prophylaxis is methylprednisolone therapy. The authors evaluated NAC and methylprednisolone in two rats models of inhalation injury: 40-hr exposure to >97% oxygen at 1.1 bar and 15-min exposure to acrolein vapor (210 ppm). The increases in lung wet/dry weight ratios, seen with both oxygen and acrolein toxicity were reduced with both treatments. However, with oxygen, NAC therapy was associated with considerably increased mortality and histological changes. Furthermore, IP NAC administration resulted in large volumes of ascitic fluid. With acrolein, IV, NAC had no significant effect on mortality or pulmonary histological damage. Methylprednisolone had no beneficial effects on either the mortality or histological damage observed in either toxicity model. They caution against the ad hoc use of NAC in the management of inhalational pulmonary injury.

• OSTI ID: 6034667
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA) Vol. 85; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACROLEIN
ADRENAL HORMONES
ALDEHYDES
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMOTHERAPY
CORTICOSTEROIDS
CYSTEINE
EDEMA
ELEMENTS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFLAMMATION
INHALATION
INTAKE
KETONES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
NECROSIS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PREDNISOLONE
PREGNANES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
STEROIDS
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
THIOLS
VERTEBRATES