Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most consumed potentially toxic drug in the world, and its cardiovascular injury has been emphasized. We evaluated the role of inflammatory mediators in the impaired vascular relaxation after APAP treatment. Rats were treated with APAP for 2 weeks (400 mg/Kg/day/p.o.) and after euthanasia, blood was collected for biochemical analysis (hepatic transaminases, lipid peroxidation and glutathione), and aortas were isolated for vascular reactivity, lipid peroxidation and biochemical analysis (glutathione, arachidonic acid, TBXA 2 , PGD 2 , 12-HETE and 15-HETE). Both blood and arteries presented increased levels of lipid peroxidation and decreased levels of glutathione. The vasodilation response to acetylcholine was impaired in the APAP group and restored after treatment with diclofenac (10 μM). In the arteries, levels of arachidonic acid were reduced while PGD 2 was increased (TBXA 2 , 12-and 15-HETE remained significantly unchanged). Thus, oxidative stress and contractile prostanoids play a significant role in the impaired vascular relaxation caused by APAP treatment.
INTRODUCTION:Like a widespread drug throughout the world, acetaminophen (N-acetyl-paminophenol, paracetamol; APAP) also named paracetamol, has been considered effective and relatively safe, but due to its low price and easy availability, there has been a significant increase in poisonings due to misuse and overdose 1, 2 . Lately, studies have emphasized the toxic side effects and serious complications of APAP on the cardiovascular system 3-6 .