Effect of N-acetylcysteine on wound healing in burned patients

H. Al-Jawad, Faruk

	Effect of N-acetylcysteine on wound healing in burned patients
Mustansiriya Medical Journal
Article 1, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 28-31
Author
Faruk H. Al-Jawad
Abstract
Background The magnitude of free radical generation and their disposal mechanisms are known to be altered in burn; and there is some kind of correlation exists between altered free radical cascades and delay wound healing. Aims Exploration of the variable effect of N-acetylcysteine on Wound Healing in Burned Patients. Methods 60 burned patients with different ages of both sexes and varying burn percentage were involved in this study. Patients allocated into 2 groups: A, B each group include 30 patients. Groups: B treated with antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, compared with group A which is treated according to hospital policy without antioxidant; also 30 healthy subjects (group C) were involved in the study as control group for comparison.To each group, serum malondialdehyde and serum glutathione levels, microbiological examination, healing time and mortality rate were measured depending on standard methods. Results Administration of N-acetylcysteine to burned patients produce significant reduction in the wound healing time and improvement in mortality rate, compared to group A, where no antioxidant was given. Conclusions This study clearly showed the beneficial effect of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of burned patients represented by shortening of healing time, in addition to reduction in hospitalization period; it is recommended to add antioxidant to the treatment list of burned patients.
Keywords
Burn; Antioxidants; acetylcysteine; oxidative stress; wound healing

Statistics Article View: 170 PDF Download: 77