PORTAL AND SYSTEMIC HEMODYNAMIC ACTION OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE CIRRHOSIS

The effects of intravenous N-acetylcysteine on hepatic and systemic ha emodynamics were investigated in 11 patients with stable cirrhosis (ei ght alcohol; two primary bilary cirrhosis; one cryptogenic). N-acetylc ysteine administration had no effect on the mean heart rate or mean ar terial blood pressure despite a significant fall in systemic and pulmo nary vascular resistance. Cardiac index increased but estimated liver blood flow and portal venous pressure did not change significantly. Ad ministration of N-acetylcysteine resulted in increased oxygen delivery to the tissues because of the increased cardiac index but this was no t accompanied by a rise in either arteriovenous oxygen extraction rati o or mean tissue oxygen consumption. Therefore N-acetylcysteine admini stration seems to confer no haemodynamic benefit to patients with cirr hosis.