The beneficial role of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive drug in treatment of COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in India: an observational study

Authors

  • Raja Bhattacharya Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Maitry Mondal Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Subhendu Bikash Naiya Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Lamsaka Lyngdoh Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Rishav Mukherjee Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5883-2908
  • Prabhat K. Singh Marwari Relief Society, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20204010

Keywords:

COVID-19, N-acetyl cysteine, Free radical scavenger, Anti-inflammatory

Abstract

Background: N-acetyl cysteine, a mucolytic agent, demonstrates free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents endothelial dysfunction by inhibition of NF-KB and formation of no adducts. This has a potential role to tackle cytokine storms, endothelial dysfunction and prothrombotic state observed in COVID-19 manifestations like ARDS and Multi organ dysfunction.

Methods: Institution based descriptive cross sectional study, 164 patients from laboratory confirmed RT PCR positive COVID-19 patients, in the study period from 27th May 2020 to 10th August 2020, were assessed, in medical college Kolkata, a dedicated COVID-19 care facility.

Results: It was observed that moderate-severe patients who received N-acetyl cysteine along with standard therapy had average hospital stay duration of 12 days, higher rate of discharge, average duration of oxygen therapy of 8 days, less number of deaths and reduced transfer to critical care facilities.

Conclusions: N-acetyl cysteine can be considered as an adjunctive therapy with standard protocol driven care, due to its beneficial anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging properties.

Author Biographies

Raja Bhattacharya, Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Associate Professor

General Medicine

Rishav Mukherjee, Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Post Graduate Trainee

Department of Medicine 

Medical College Kolkata 

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Published

2020-09-24

How to Cite

Bhattacharya, R., Mondal, M., Naiya, S. B., Lyngdoh, L., Mukherjee, R., & Singh, P. K. (2020). The beneficial role of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive drug in treatment of COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in India: an observational study. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(10), 3518–3522. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20204010

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Original Research Articles