SUPPLEMENTATION OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE FAILS TO INCREASE GLUTATHIONE IN LYMPHOCYTES AND PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH AIDS

Because glutathione (GSH) in plasma and lymphocytes of HIV-infected pa tients is low, adjunct therapy with N-acetylcysteine (NAG) to restore GSH homeostasis has been proposed. To investigate the effect of NAC on the GSH status we treated six patients with AIDS with 1.8 g/day of NA C for 2 weeks. During treatment the plasma concentration of cysteine, a precursor for GSH synthesis, increased significantly. Nevertheless, there was no significant increase in GSH in plasma and peripheral bloo d mononuclear cells. The failure of sulfhydryl supplementation to incr ease GSH suggests that the low concentrations of the tripeptide are no t the result of an increased consumption secondary to an oxidant stres s, but rather the consequence of a decreased rate of synthesis of GSH in HIV infection.