Tranexamic acid in UGIB

 Q: Tranexamic acid is found to be a good adjuvant treatment in patients with resistant severe upper gastrointestinal bleed (UGIB)? (select one) 

 A) True 

B) False 

 

Answer: B 

Although it makes sense to add antifibrinolytic therapy in a desperate situation where (UGIB) is hard to control, studies have shown that on the contrary Tranexamic acid can be harmful and provides no benefit. It increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism(PE), and seizures. 

So far, tranexamic acid has no role in the management of UGIB.

#gastroenterology

#hematology

Reference

1. Bennett C, Klingenberg SL, Langholz E, Gluud LL. Tranexamic acid for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014; :CD006640. 

2. HALT-IT Trial Collaborators. Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2020; 395:1927.