RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Late-breaking abstract: Efficacy of inhaled N-acetylcystein in patients with interstitial pneumonia JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P4500 VO 44 IS Suppl 58 A1 Okuda, Ryo A1 Ohba, Tomohiro A1 Nishizawa, Tomotaka A1 Kawabe, Rie A1 Honda, Koujiro A1 Amano, Masako A1 Matsushima, Hidekazu YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4500.abstract AB Background: An oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may be associated with the disease process in Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). N-acetylcystein might contribute to a reversal of the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance. The inhalation of N-acetylcystein might be the best way of reaching N-acetylcystein to respiratory epithelial lining fluid. Furthermore, the efficacy of inhaled N-acetylcystein in patients with secondary interstitial pneumonia remains unclear.Aim: To assesse the clinical efficacy of inhaled N-acetylcystein therapy in patients with interstitial pneumonia.Methods: The study design was a prospective, single-arm study of the clinical effects of inhaled N-acetylcystein in patients with interstitial pneumonia who visited one institute in Saitama, Japan, between January 1 and December 31, 2013.Results: A total of 40 patients were included. The patients with interstitial pneumonia were diagnosed as follows: IPF, 29 cases; idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, 5 cases; connective tissue disease, 5 cases; and chronic hypersensitive pneumonitis, 1 case. The mean change in FVC during the 6 months after N-acetylcystein therapy was -10 mL. The effect of N-acetylcystein was only examined in patients (n = 28) who had conducted a respiratory function test at 6 months before the initiation of therapy. The mean change in FVC during 6 months prior to the N-acetylcystein therapy was -127 mL, while the mean change in FVC during 6 months after the initiation of therapy was -19 mL. The absolute serum level of KL-6 decreased significantly from 1372 U/mL to 1065 U/mL after the therapy. Conclusions: These results showed that inhaled N-acetylcystein had a beneficial effect in patients with interstitial pneumonia.