Amelioration of acute sequelae of blast induced mild traumatic brain injury by N-acetyl cysteine: a double-blind, placebo controlled study

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54163. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054163. Epub 2013 Jan 23.

Abstract

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) secondary to blast exposure is the most common battlefield injury in Southwest Asia. There has been little prospective work in the combat setting to test the efficacy of new countermeasures. The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) versus placebo on the symptoms associated with blast exposure mTBI in a combat setting.

Methods: This study was a randomized double blind, placebo-controlled study that was conducted on active duty service members at a forward deployed field hospital in Iraq. All symptomatic U.S. service members who were exposed to significant ordnance blast and who met the criteria for mTBI were offered participation in the study and 81 individuals agreed to participate. Individuals underwent a baseline evaluation and then were randomly assigned to receive either N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or placebo for seven days. Each subject was re-evaluated at 3 and 7 days. Outcome measures were the presence of the following sequelae of mTBI: dizziness, hearing loss, headache, memory loss, sleep disturbances, and neurocognitive dysfunction. The resolution of these symptoms seven days after the blast exposure was the main outcome measure in this study. Logistic regression on the outcome of 'no day 7 symptoms' indicated that NAC treatment was significantly better than placebo (OR = 3.6, p = 0.006). Secondary analysis revealed subjects receiving NAC within 24 hours of blast had an 86% chance of symptom resolution with no reported side effects versus 42% for those seen early who received placebo.

Conclusion: This study, conducted in an active theatre of war, demonstrates that NAC, a safe pharmaceutical countermeasure, has beneficial effects on the severity and resolution of sequelae of blast induced mTBI. This is the first demonstration of an effective short term countermeasure for mTBI. Further work on long term outcomes and the potential use of NAC in civilian mTBI is warranted.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00822263.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
  • Acetylcysteine / therapeutic use*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blast Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Blast Injuries / physiopathology
  • Brain Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / prevention & control
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Free Radical Scavengers / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011*
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / prevention & control
  • Military Personnel*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Placebos
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / prevention & control

Substances

  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Placebos
  • Acetylcysteine

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00822263

Grants and funding

Supported by the Department of Defense. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.