acetylcysteine + sodium bicarbonate

Acetylcysteine + sodium bicarbonate is a combination therapy primarily investigated for the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly in patients undergoing procedures such as cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention. Acetylcysteine acts as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, replenishing intracellular glutathione and reducing oxidative stress in renal tissues. Sodium bicarbonate works by alkalinizing urine, which may reduce the formation of reactive oxygen species and mitigate tubular damage from contrast agents. The combination has been shown in some studies to reduce the incidence of contrast-induced AKI compared to acetylcysteine alone or standard hydration, though results are mixed regarding its effect on longer-term outcomes like dialysis requirement or mortality[1][2][4]. The mechanism involves both antioxidant protection (acetylcysteine) and urinary alkalinization (sodium bicarbonate), targeting different aspects of nephroprotection during exposure to iodinated contrast media.

Other names

N-acetylcysteine + sodium bicarbonateNAC + NaHCO3