Tier 1 — highest

Randomized trial of acetylcysteine in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Research Network, Fernando J Martinez, Joao A de Andrade, Kevin J Anstrom, Talmadge E King Jr, Ganesh Raghu
N Engl J Med 2014 370(22):2093-2101

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 24836309
PubMed Central
PMC4116664
DOI
10.1056/NEJMoa1401739
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

DesignRandomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
ModelHuman
SamplePatients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
InterventionNAC versus placebo
Duration60 weeks
EndpointsForced vital capacity; Clinical outcomes; Safety

What the study showed, in plain terms

Important negative trial evaluating NAC monotherapy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Key findings

NAC did not provide the hoped-for preservation of lung function in the studied IPF population.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Disease-specific trial; does not answer mucolytic use in other respiratory disorders.

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