The antioxidant acetylcysteine reduces cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal failure: a randomized, controlled trial. Tepel M, van der Giet M, Statz M, Jankowski J, Zidek W. Med Klinik IV, Univ.-Klinik Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany. Tepel@zedat.fu-berlin.de BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal failure have increased oxidative stress and show elevated cardiovascular mortality. Whether increased cardiovascular events can be prevented by the administration of antioxidants is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the effects of acetylcysteine, a thiol-containing antioxidant, on cardiovascular events in patients undergoing hemodialysis. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between October 1, 1999, and September 30, 2001, in 134 patients (76 male and 58 female) with a mean age of 62+/-16 years (mean+/-SD) who had been undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for a minimum of 3 months 3 times weekly in an ambulatory center. Median (range) follow-up was 14.5 (1 to 24) months. Patients were randomly assigned either to receive acetylcysteine (600 mg BID) or placebo. The primary end point was a composite variable consisting of cardiac events including fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease death, need for coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery, ischemic stroke, peripheral vascular disease with amputation, or need for angioplasty. Secondary end points included each of the component outcomes, total mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. A total of 18 (28%) of the 64 hemodialysis patients assigned to acetylcysteine group and 33 (47%) of the 70 hemodialysis patients assigned to control group had a primary end point (relative risk, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.38 to 0.95], P=0.03). No significant differences in secondary end points or total mortality were detected. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients, treatment with acetylcysteine (600 mg BID) reduces composite cardiovascular end points. Circulation. 2003 Feb 25;107(7):992-5. Source: Medscape.com posted 4/05 References for Medscape article on Cardiac Catherization Acta Cardiol, 2007; 62(4): 349-54. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.