A combination of levosimendan and N-Acetylcysteine shows significant favorable efficacy on experimental liver ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is cellular damage that emerges from re-oxygenation of a hypoxic organ. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effects of a combination of levosimendan, an inotropic agent, and N-Acetylcysteine, the precursor of antioxidants and glutathione, in an experimental liver IRI model. METHODS: In this study, 38 rats were randomly divided into five groups. Before the ischemia, study arms were given physiological saline solution, N-Acetylcysteine (NAS), levosimendan or a combination of NAS+levosimendan in a predetermined amount and duration, and the infusion was continued until the end of this study. The hepatic pedicle was occluded using an atraumatic vein clamp, and 60 minutes of ischemia was achieved. The clamp was then opened and 60 minutes of reperfusion was ensured. Liver tissue samples were obtained after sacrifice, and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were determined. Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and MPO levels of blood samples were also measured. RESULTS: Among the histopathological changes in the liver tissue after IRI, differences between groups were statistically significant in the injury scoring system based on congestion, vacuolization and necrosis levels. Histopathological injury score, plasma MPO, AST, ALT, tissue MPO and tissue MDA values were statistically significantly lower in the treatment groups, prominently in the levosimendan and NAS combination group concerning liver histopathological damage. CONCLUSION: The use of a levosimendan plus NAS combination in liver IRI markedly suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress and significantly reduced liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and can be recommended for decreasing IRI instead of single agent use of levosimendan or NAS.