Compatibility of reduced glutathione (GSH) with different solutions currently used in anesthesia and reanimation

BACKGROUND. Reduced glutathione (GSH) an antioxidant used for i.v. or i.m. administrations, prepared as powder to be diluted in distilled water just before injection (Tationil 600), could lose its antioxidant properties when added to various infusions currently utilized in anesthesia and reanimation. AIM OF THE WORK. Evaluate in vitro the compatibility of the compound marketed under the trade nome "Tationil 600" with the intravenous infusions in common use in anesthesia and reanimation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 10 mg GSH (Tationil 600) were added to 10 ml of different solutions: 0.9% saline (I), 5% glucosate solution (II), Normosol-M and 5% glucose (III), 3.5% Emagel (IV), Propofol 10 mg/ml (V), in order to obtain a final solution containing 1 mg og GSH per ml of solution. The different solutions were incubated and aliquots taken at different times and analyzed. RESULTS. GSH in its commercial preparation proved to be compatible with all solutions examined with exception of solution III, because of the interference of sodium bisolfite. CONCLUSIONS. Reduced glutathione (Tationil 600) was compatible with solutions I, II, IV and V, used for i.v. administrations in anesthesia and reanimation, and revealed to maintain its antioxidant properties when studied over a period of 24 hours.