N-Acetylcysteine for Nonacetaminophen Acute Liver Failure?

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown benefit in patients with acetaminophen-related acute liver failure. Now, researchers have conducted a prospective, double-blind trial to evaluate the efficacy of NAC in patients with nonacetaminophen-induced acute liver failure.

Adults with evidence of acute liver failure (any degree of encephalopathy and an international normalized ratio ≥1.5 from an illness lasting <24 weeks) and no evidence of acetaminophen overdose were enrolled at 24 U.S. sites. Participants were stratified by hepatic coma grade (I–II vs. III–IV) and site and were randomized to receive either 5% dextrose (placebo) or 5% dextrose with NAC (initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg/hour over 1 hour, followed by 12.5 mg/kg/hour for 4 hours and then…