NCT02579772

Effects of N-acetylcysteine on Cardiorespiratory Control in COPD Patients With Mild-to-moderate Airflow Obstruction

Systemic Vascular Dysfunction in COPD Patients With Mild-to-moderate Airflow Obstruction: Pharmacological Treatment With N-acetylcysteine

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 13 (actual)
• Sponsor: Queen's University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The main purpose of this study is to determine whether pharmacological treatment with N-acetylcysteine improves central and peripheral cardiorespiratory control and physical capacity in COPD patients with mild-to-moderate airflow obstruction.

Detailed description

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cardiovascular complications constitute the main causes of poor physical capacity and healthcare resources utilization in COPD. There is emerging evidence that these impairments have a major impact on the health of patients with mild-to-moderate disease, the largest sub-population of COPD. This important problem, however, is currently neglected as no specific pharmacological treatment is offered to these patients. Recent studies indicate that vascular abnormalities are mediated, at least in part, by circulating inflammatory substances and direct damage of the arteries by oxygen radicals (oxidative stress). The current investigation will test the hypothesis that N-acetylcysteine (NAC), via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, improves systemic vascular function and physical capacity in COPD patients with mild-to-moderate airflow obstruction.

Conditions

• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	N-acetylcysteine	Pharmacological treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC): 3 pills of 600 mg of NAC/day orally for 4 days prior to experimental procedures and 1 pill of 600 mg of NAC orally on the day of the experiment.
DRUG	Placebo	Placebo: 3 placebo pills/day orally for 4 days prior to experimental procedures and 1 placebo pill orally on the day of the experiment.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-07-01
• Primary completion: 2016-05-01
• Completion: 2016-05-01
• First posted: 2015-10-20
• Last updated: 2018-06-14
• Results posted: 2018-06-14