Fibrinolytic therapy and n-acetylocysteine in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction: Its influence on authentic plasma hydroperoxide levels and polymorphonuclear neutrophil oxygen metabolism

Recently it has been demonstrated that the administration of n-acetylocyste ine (NAC), in combination with streptokinase, significantly diminished oxid ative stress in patients with myocardial infarction. The aim of our study w aste assess the influence of NAC treatment, as adjunct therapy in an evolvi ng myocardial infarction, on the polymorphonuclear count, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide levels and nitric oxide production by PMNs and authen tic: plasma hydroperoxide (ROOH). Treatment of patients with NAC in additio n to reperfusion therapy was accompanied by a significant decrease in the n umber of circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophils. However, the oxygen met abolism of PMNs was not affected by NAC administration. The concentration o f authentic plasma hydroperoxide was significantly reduced by the administr ation of NAC which suggests diminished oxidative stress during acute myocar dial infarction.