Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development of endothelial damage in hemodialysis (HD). We have assessed the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a compound with antioxidant effects, on malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress on lipid peroxidation. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted in which 24 chronic HD patients were divided into 2 groups according to gender, age, time on HD and cause of renal failure. The NAC group (n = 12) received 600 mg of NAC twice a day for 30 days. The remaining patients constituted the control group (n = 12). MDA levels were measured pre- and post-dialysis at the beginning of the study (baseline) and on day 30 (30 days). Results: Baseline pre- and post-dialysis MDA levels were not different between both groups and were above normal values. A significant decrease was found in the NAC group when either pre- or post-dialysis MDA levels were compared to the corresponding control group levels on day 30 (pre-dialysis NAC vs control group 3.01 ± 0.6 vs 4.5 ± 0.73 mmol/l, p < 0.0001, post-dialysis NAC vs control group 2.76 ± 0.5 vs 4.39 ± 0.7 mmol/l, p < 0.0001). Only in the NAC group were pre-dialysis MDA 30-day levels different from pre-dialysis baseline levels (3.01 ± 0.6 vs 5.07 ± 1.6 mmol/l, p < 0.002). Post-dialysis MDA 30-day concentrations were significantly lower than post-dialysis MDA baseline levels (2.76 ± 0.5 vs 4.32 ± 0.7 mmol/l, p < 0.002) and pre-dialysis MDA 30-day measurements (2.76 ± 0.5 vs 3.01 ± 0.6 mmol/l, p < 0.011). Conclusions: MDA levels are elevated in chronic HD patients and are not significantly reduced by HD. NAC significantly reduces malondialdehyde levels in chronic HD patients.

Author Details

Authors

• H. Trimarchi
• M.R. Mongitore
• P. Baglioni
• M. Forrester
• E.A.R. Freixas
• M. Schropp
• H. Pereyra
• M. Alonso

Departments

• Division of Nephrology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Address

Log in for Subscribers

Citation