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No Significant Beneficial Effects of Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine on Patient Outcome in Non-Paracetamol Acute Liver Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Carmen Orban, Mihaela Agapie, Angelica Bratu, Mugurel Jafal, Mădălina Duțu, Mihai Popescu
Biomedicines 2024 12(7):1462

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 39062036
PubMed Central
PMC11274394
DOI
10.3390/biomedicines12071462
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

DesignMeta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
ModelHuman
Sample4 randomized controlled trials
InterventionIntravenous NAC versus control
DurationAcute liver failure treatment
EndpointsOverall survival; Transplant-free survival; Length of stay

What the study showed, in plain terms

Recent randomized-only synthesis that challenges broader positive meta-analyses containing nonrandomized evidence.

Key findings

The pooled randomized evidence did not show significant overall or transplant-free survival benefit, although an adult subgroup signal was reported.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Few trials, mixed pediatric/adult populations and imprecision; subgroup findings require caution.

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