Study of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) for the Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis

Summary

Rhabdomyolysis has many causes including trauma, muscle crush injuries, lack of blood supply to an arm or leg, burns, seizures, drugs and hereditary disorders. Rhabdomyolysis causes the breakdown of muscle cells and the release of a molecule called myoglobin. Myoglobin is very harmful to the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure. Continuous dialysis has been shown to remove the myoglobin molecule from the blood in patients with rhabdomyolysis. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used in patients receiving contrast dye for x-rays and has shown less worsening of kidney function compared to patients not receiving NAC. Early and aggressive treatment of patients with rhabdomyolysis with standard therapy, continuous dialysis and a drug called N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may prevent the development of acute kidney failure. Patients who develop kidney failure from this disorder are often critically ill and have a much higher chance of not surviving than those who do not develop kidney failure. The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of NAC and Continuous Veno-Venous hemo(dia)filtration (CRRT)early in the course of rhabdomyolysis (in addition to standard therapy)decreases the chance of developing acute renal failure

Timeline

Start

2006-11

Primary completion

2010-12

Completion

2010-12

Publications

• Background Abul-Ezz SR, Walker PD, Shah SV. Role of glutathione in an animal model of myoglobinuric acute renal failure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Nov 1;88(21):9833-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.21.9833.
• Background Tepel M, van der Giet M, Schwarzfeld C, Laufer U, Liermann D, Zidek W. Prevention of radiographic-contrast-agent-induced reductions in renal function by acetylcysteine. N Engl J Med. 2000 Jul 20;343(3):180-4. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200007203430304.
• Background Briguori C, Manganelli F, Scarpato P, Elia PP, Golia B, Riviezzo G, Lepore S, Librera M, Villari B, Colombo A, Ricciardelli B. Acetylcysteine and contrast agent-associated nephrotoxicity. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Jul 17;40(2):298-303. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(02)01958-7.
• Background Sochman J. N-acetylcysteine in acute cardiology: 10 years later: what do we know and what would we like to know?! J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 May 1;39(9):1422-8. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(02)01797-7.
• Background Birck R, Krzossok S, Markowetz F, Schnulle P, van der Woude FJ, Braun C. Acetylcysteine for prevention of contrast nephropathy: meta-analysis. Lancet. 2003 Aug 23;362(9384):598-603. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14189-X.
• Background Ward MM. Factors predictive of acute renal failure in rhabdomyolysis. Arch Intern Med. 1988 Jul;148(7):1553-7.

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