Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine, Hepatotoxicity and Plasma Glutathione S-Transferase in Patients with Paracetamol Overdosage

Abstract

The concentration of glutatione S-transferase B₁ (GST B₁) subunits was measured in sequential plasma samples taken at frequent intervals for 48 h from ten patients with severe paracetamol poisoning who were treated with intravenous N-acetylcysteine. No significant increase in plasma GST B₁ concentration was observed over the study period and within 4 h of starting treatment with N-acetylcysteine there were significant decreases in plasma GST B₁ concentrations. None of the patients subsequently developed significant liver damage. At the dose used for the treatment of paracetamol poisoning, N-acetylcysteine has no hepatotoxic effects.