Early Effect of N-Acetylcysteine (Combined with Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate) on Mild Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)

HERO ID

3067320

Reference Type

Journal Article

Title

Early Effect of N-Acetylcysteine (Combined with Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate) on Mild Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Author(s)

Li, M; Gao, W; Li, X

Year

2015

Is Peer Reviewed?

0

Journal

Latin American Journal of Pharmacy
ISSN: 0326-2383

Volume

34

Issue

6

Page Numbers

1269-1272

Web of Science Id

WOS:000361570200032

Abstract

Currently, the main treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involves glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. Recently, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used to treat SLE around the world. To explore the effect of NAC therapy on SLE were examined the changes in nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), human 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2 alpha), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibody, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) in patients with SLE who recently received treatment with NAC. The study involved 23 patients with mild SLE. The control group (12 patients) received hydroxychloroquine sulfate (400 mg/day). The investigational group (11 patients) received both hydroxychloroquine sulfate and NAC (1200 mg/day). The aforementioned indices were measured before treatment, and 1 and 3 months after the treatment. The investigational group showed significant decreases in NO (36.45 +/- 8.4 mu mol/L), 8-iso-PGF2a (41.26 +/- 8.36 mu g/L), ESR (38.65 +/- 10.36 mm/h), and ds-DNA antibody (45.36 +/- 16.32 IU/L) and a significant increase in GSH (1.01 +/- 3.26 mg/g) after 3-month treatment vs before treatment (P < 0.05); the control group showed no significant changes in NO (50.37 +/- 8.9 mu mol/L), 8-iso-PGF2a (55.65 +/- 8.45 mu g/L), ESR (48.67 +/- 10.54 mm/h), ds-DNA antibody (60.38 +/- 11.85 IU/L), and GSH (0.62 +/- 0.34 mg/g) after 3-month treatment vs before treatment (P > 0.05). After 3 months, SLEDAI of the investigational group (4.22 +/- 1.56) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while the control group (4.98 +/- 2.56) showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). IgG in both groups had no significant changes before and 3 months after treatment (P > 0.05). In conclousion, NAC inhibited the oxidative stress in active SLE and could lower the activity in early SLE.

Keywords

antioxidant treatment; N-acetyl-cysteine; oxidative stress; systemic lupus erythematosus