High-Dose Acetylcysteine in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive disorder with a poor prognosis.

We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter study that assessed the effectiveness over one year of a high oral dose of acetylcysteine (600 mg three times daily) added to standard therapy with prednisone plus azathioprine. The primary end points were changes between baseline and month 12 in vital capacity and in single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DL(CO)).