Therapeutic potential of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in preventing cytokine storm in COVID-19: review of current evidence

• Published in: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences Vol. 25; no. 6; p. 2802
• Main Authors: Mohanty, R R, Padhy, B M, Das, S, Meher, B R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Acetylcysteine - therapeutic use; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; COVID-19 - drug therapy; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - virology; Cytokine Release Syndrome - prevention & control; Cytokine Release Syndrome - virology; Humans; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects
• ISSN: 2284-0729
• DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202103_25442

Since November 2019, SARS Coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread through more than 195 nations worldwide. Though the coronavirus infection affects all age and sex groups, the mortality is skewed towards the elderly population and the cause of death is mostly acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are data suggesting the role of excessive immune activation and cytokine storm as the cause of lung injury in COVID-19. The excessive immune activation and cytokine storm usually occurs due to an imbalance in redox homeostasis of the individuals. Considering the antioxidant and free radical scavenging action of N acetyl cysteine (NAC), its use might be useful in COVID-19 patients by decreasing the cytokine storm consequently decreasing the disease severity. Therefore, we reviewed all the available resources pertaining to the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cytokine storm and the mechanism of action of NAC in preventing ROS. We also reviewed the use of NAC in COVID-19.