Tranexamic acid in massive haemorrhage from the upper gastrointestinal tract: a double-blind study

In a double-blind trial of tranexamic acid in massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, 76 patients were treated with the active drug and 73 patients with placebo. The doses were 1 g intravenously six times daily for a maximum of 3 days, followed by 1.5 g orally four times daily for a maximum of 4 days. The treatment group and the placebo group were comparable with respect to mean age, diagnoses and laboratory tests but differed slightly with respect to sex and alcohol consumption. The transfusion requirement in the treatment group was less than in the placebo group during the first days after admission, the difference being significant on the second day after admission. Ten patients in the treatment group and 18 patients in the placebo group were operated on. Eleven patients in the treatment group and 12 patients in the placebo group died. In the tranexamic-acid-treated group fewer operations were performed and significantly less blood was needed. It therefore seems highly likely that tranexamic acid has a beneficial effect, although small.