Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Nov 1994
The influence of N-acetylcysteine on the measurement of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in healthy subjects.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether the infusion of N-acetylcysteine decreased the measurement of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in healthy persons. N-acetylcysteine was administered intraveneously 10 mg kg-1 as a loading dose and then at a rate of 10 mg kg-1 h-1 for 32 h in six male subjects. The intrinsic, extrinsic and common pathway of coagulation were monitored with activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and prothrombin time, respectively. ⋯ Coagulation factors II, VII and X, the three components of prothrombin time, decreased significantly to different degrees. We conclude that infusion of N-acetylcysteine intraveneously decreases the prothrombin time in healthy subjects. Thus, one should not make conclusions which are too far-reaching based on prothrombin time alone in patients who have been treated recently with N-acetylcysteine intraveneously.