N-acetylcysteine for patients with prolonged hypotension as prophylaxis for acute renal failure (NEPHRON).

Background: Acute renal failure is a common complication in critically ill patients and carries an increased morbidity and mortality. N-acetylcysteine is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that may counteract some of the pathophysiologic derangements in shock states.

Objective: To test whether the administration of N-acetylcysteine, compared with placebo, reduces the incidence of acute renal failure in hypotensive patients.