Effect of acetylcysteine on the inflammation and oxidative stress in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the effect of acetylcysteine on the inflammation and oxidative stress in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods Sixty patients with COPD were divided into two groups by random mechanical sampling method (30 cases each group).The control group was treated with conventional therapy and the treatment group added acetylcysteine for 8 weeks.The levels of tumor necrosis factor- t (TNF- α ),interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin -8 (IL-8),superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) were monitored and analyzed before and after treatment.Results The levels of SOD,MDA were (51.08 ± 7.80),(75.09 ± 8.03) μ U/L and (7.13 ± 0.89),(4.51 ±0.61 ) μ mol/L before and after treatment in the treatment group,and (52.12 ± 7.31 ),(65.16 ± 8.01 ) μ U/Land (7.11 ± 0.87),(6.21 ± 0.78 ) μ mol/L in the control group.There were significant differences before and after treatment in two groups (P＜0.01 or ＜0.05),and there were significant differences after treatment between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF- α were significant differences before and after treatment in the treatment group [ ( 18.25 ± 7.24) ng/L vs.(29.02 ± 6.70) Ng/L,( 115.28 ± 13.76 ) ng/Lvs.(148.99 ± 16.61) ng/L,(20.43 ±3.92) ng/L vs.(32.32 ± 8.18)ng/L] (P ＜0.05).But there was nosignificant difference before and aftertreatment in the control group [ (25.25 ± 7.55 )ng/L vs.(28.82 ± 7.54)ng/L,( 136.27 ± 12.97) ng/L vs.( 150.21 ± 17.52) ng/L,(28.43 ± 3.92) ng/L vs.(32.56 ± 8.78) ng/L] (P＞0.05),there were significant differences after treatment between two groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Acetylcysteine can inhibit inflammation and e hminate free radicals in plasma.Acetylcysteine has beneficial effects on COPD. Key words: Acetylcysteine;  Pulmonary disease,chronic obstructive;  Oxidative stress