Date Published:
2010
Citation-Indexed Journal:
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. Volume 19, Issue 10, October 2010, Pages 1064-1070
Citation:
Effects of delay in infusion of N-acetylcysteine on appearance of adverse drug reactions after acetaminophen overdose: A retrospective study
Authors:
Zyoud, S.H.,
Awang, R,
Syed Sulaiman, S.A.,
Al-Jabi, S.W.
Awang, R,
Syed Sulaiman, S.A.,
Al-Jabi, S.W.
Abstract:
Purpose:
To investigate the relationship between different types of adverse drug reaction (ADR) and late time to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) infusion in patients presenting to the hospital with acetaminophen overdose.
Methods:
This is a retrospective study of patients admitted to the hospital for acute acetaminophen overdose over a period of 5 years (1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008). The primary outcome of interest was the relationship between ADR, if any, and late time to NAC infusion. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to test differences between groups depending on the normality of the data. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis.
Results:
Of 305 patients with acetaminophen overdose, 146 (47.9%) were treated with intravenous NAC and 139 (45.6%) were included in this study. Different types of ADR were observed in 94 (67.6%) patients. Late time to NAC infusion was significantly associated with cutaneous anaphylactoid reactions when compared to patients without this type of ADR ( p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in time to NAC infusion between patients with and without the following ADR: gastrointestinal reactions (p=0.11), respiratory reactions ( p=0.77), central nervous reactions (p=0.64), and cardiovascular reactions (p=0.63).
Conclusion:
Late time to NAC infusion is a risk factor for developing cutaneous anaphylactoid reactions, suggesting, rather than proving, that early NAC infusion (=8 hours) may be protective against this type of ADR.
To investigate the relationship between different types of adverse drug reaction (ADR) and late time to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) infusion in patients presenting to the hospital with acetaminophen overdose.
Methods:
This is a retrospective study of patients admitted to the hospital for acute acetaminophen overdose over a period of 5 years (1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008). The primary outcome of interest was the relationship between ADR, if any, and late time to NAC infusion. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to test differences between groups depending on the normality of the data. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis.
Results:
Of 305 patients with acetaminophen overdose, 146 (47.9%) were treated with intravenous NAC and 139 (45.6%) were included in this study. Different types of ADR were observed in 94 (67.6%) patients. Late time to NAC infusion was significantly associated with cutaneous anaphylactoid reactions when compared to patients without this type of ADR ( p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in time to NAC infusion between patients with and without the following ADR: gastrointestinal reactions (p=0.11), respiratory reactions ( p=0.77), central nervous reactions (p=0.64), and cardiovascular reactions (p=0.63).
Conclusion:
Late time to NAC infusion is a risk factor for developing cutaneous anaphylactoid reactions, suggesting, rather than proving, that early NAC infusion (=8 hours) may be protective against this type of ADR.
