Beneficial effects of N-acetylcysteine on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity and its associated complications

Back grounds and Aim: N-acetylcysteine has been broadly utilized as an antioxidant agent in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of NAC on the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity and other related indexes in Iranian patients with SLE. Material and Methods: Eighty patients in two groups 40 patients under treatment by NAC and 40 patients as control were enrolled. Related laboratory examinations including CH50, proteinuria, C4, C3, ANA titer, and anti dsDNA were measured by appropriate methods. Due to the measure of the SLE disease activity before and after treatment BILAG and SLEDAI indexes were used. Results: Findings of this study showed that the SLE disease activity has been decreased after 3 months of NAC therapy. We observed that measuring SLE disease activity there was a significant decrease after treatment in the NAC group based on BILAG score; P=0.023 and based on SLEDAI score; P=0.015 compare with control group. In addition, neural, musculoskeletal, renal, vascular, cutaneomucosal, and general symptoms significantly improved in the NAC group when compared with control group. Conclusions: It appears that administration of 1800 mg NAC to SLE patients can decrease the SLE disease activity and its complications. In addition, mentioned dose of NAC can improve the clinical outcome of SLE in these patients. However, to achieve verifiable results in the treatment of SLE, further studies with larger sample size and different doses of NAC at different locations among other specific groups of patients suffering from SLE and its related disorders are needed.