The NACIAM Study – Assessing the benefit of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in acute heart attacks.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an anti-oxidant which also potentiates the action of nitroglycerine. When used with nitrates in the context of acute myocardial infarction, it may reduce infarct size by minimising reperfusion injury as well as potentiating nitroglycerine's vasodilating and anti-platelet effects. The NACIAM trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the impact of early NAC therapy in reducing infarct size (as assessed by cardiac MRI) in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction receiving intravenous nitrate therapy and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.