effect of n-acetylcysteine on hscrp in patients on continues ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a quasi-experimental study

Background: inflammatory processes are proved in patients with chronic kidney disease (ckd) as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. n-acetylcysteine (nac) is known as an antioxidant drug with anti-inflammatory effects. objectives: this study aimed to evaluate the effects of nac on hscrp in ckd patients on peritoneal dialysis. methods: this quasi-experimental self-controlled study examined adult ckd patients on peritoneal dialysis referred to the peritoneal dialysis clinic. the participants were assigned into two groups (a: crp of 5 - 15 mg/l and b: crp < 5 mg/l), and both groups were treated with oral nac 600mg twice a day for eight weeks. first, the hscrp was measured before and after the intervention, and then all the collected data were analyzed. results: forty patients (n = 24 in the group a and n = 26 in the group b) participated in this study. nac decreased the hscrp level in both groups (p = 0.001 in the group a vs. p = 0.002 in group b); however, the decrease was more prominent in the group a (p = 0.013). the hscrp decrease was more significant in women (p = 0.002) in general and women in the group b (p = 0.02) in particular. the hscrp variation had a significant relationship with the underlying disease (p = 0.009). there was no significant correlation between the hscrp variation with age (r = -0.173, p = 0.285) and the duration of dialysis. conclusions: the administration of nac (600 mg, twice a day for eight weeks) significantly decreased the level of hscrp in patients on peritoneal dialysis, especially in those with crp = 5 - 15 mh/l. the decrease has no relationship with age and duration of dialysis; however, it was more highlighted in women.