Tranexamic Acid in Patients with Hemoptysis
JAMSAK TSCHEIKUNA, M.D.*, BENJAMAS CHVA YCHOO, M.D.*, CHANA NARUMAN, M.Sc. *, NANTA MARANETRA, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Division of Pulmonary and Tuberculosis, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
Materials and Methods : This study was a randomized double blinded placebo controlled trial in using tranexamic acid (Transamine~) in hemoptysis patients. The study period was one week. Patients with hemoptysis were separated into 3 groups depending on the amount of blood. Group 1 consisted of patients with blood streak sputum. Group 2 coughed up less than 20 ml of frank blood. Patients in Group 3 were those who coughed up 20-500 ml of blood per day. A record of the amount of bleeding and drug side effects was done.
Results : From June 1994 to May 1997, 46 patients with hemoptysis completed the study. There were 21 in the tranexamic acid group and 25 in the placebo group. The placebo group had a tendency not to have underlying lung disease and more patients who had a normal chest X-ray. The benefit of tranexamic acid in shortening the days of hemoptysis is not shown in this study. There was a low incidence of side effects of tranexamic acid in this study.
Conclusion : This randomized double blinded placebo controlled trial could not demonstrate the benefit of tranexamic acid in shortening the days of hemoptysis and confirm the low incidence of side effects of this drug.
Keywords : Tranexamic Acid, Hemoptysis
