Kürşad ÖNEÇ, Özgür EKİNCİ, Özge Tuğçe PAŞAOĞLU, Kadriye ALTOK
Konuralp Tıp Dergisi - 2026;18(1):43-48
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of paricalcitol, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and carvedilol in a rat model of chlorhexidine gluconate-induced peritoneal fibrosis. Material and Methods: Thirty-six female Wistar albino rats were randomized into six groups (n=6 each). Peritoneal fibrosis was induced with daily intraperitoneal chlorhexidine gluconate injections for 21 days. Treatment groups received paricalcitol, NAC, or carvedilol, alone or in combination. Serum TGF-beta1 levels and histopathological parameters (peritoneal thickness, fibrosis, inflammation, vascularization) were assessed. Results: Serum TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in the chlorhexidine group compared to controls (58.29 +/- 4.40 vs. 49.06 +/- 2.35 ng/mL, p<0.05). NAC significantly reduced TGF-beta1 compared to chlorhexidine alone (46.76 +/- 4.79 ng/mL, p<0.05). Peritoneal thickness was markedly increased in the chlorhexidine group (245 +/- 27.3 µm vs. 22.3 +/- 2.6 µm in controls, p<0.01) but attenuated by NAC (169.8 +/- 30.8 µm, p<0.01) and carvedilol (146.5 +/- 43.1 µm, p<0.01). Fibrosis and inflammation scores were also reduced in NAC and carvedilol groups (all p<0.05). Paricalcitol alone showed only partial and non-significant effects. Conclusions: NAC demonstrated consistent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects, while carvedilol provided moderate benefit and paricalcitol had limited efficacy. These findings suggest that antioxidant therapy, particularly NAC, may represent a potential strategy for preserving peritoneal membrane integrity, though further studies are warranted.
