Tier 1 — highest

Acetylcysteine for prevention of renal outcomes in patients undergoing coronary and peripheral vascular angiography: main results from the randomized Acetylcysteine for Contrast-induced nephropathy Trial (ACT)

ACT Investigators
Circulation 2011 124(11):1250-1259

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 21859972
DOI
10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.038943
Funding
Funding disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full funding statement.
Competing interests
Competing-interest disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full declaration.

Study snapshot

DesignLarge randomized placebo-controlled trial
ModelHuman
Sample2,308 patients
InterventionOral NAC 1,200 mg twice daily before and after angiography versus placebo
DurationTwo doses before and two doses after procedure
EndpointsContrast-associated acute kidney injury; Renal outcomes; Clinical events

What the study showed, in plain terms

Definitive large trial testing one of NAC's most widely promoted off-label kidney-protection uses.

Key findings

NAC did not reduce contrast-associated acute kidney injury or major renal outcomes; event rates were essentially identical.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Periprocedural high-risk population, but the negative result strongly weakens routine claims that NAC prevents contrast nephropathy.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology