Tranexamic acid

Study: Tranexamic acid

“Tranexamic acid, an inhibitor of plasminogen activation, reduces urinary collagen cross-link excretion in both experimental and rheumatoid arthritis.”

Ronday HK; Te Koppele JM; Greenwald RA; Moak SA; De Roos JA; Dijkmans BA; Breedveld FC; Verheijen JH; Br J Rheumatol 1998 Jan;37(1):34-8.

ABSTRACT: The plasminogen activation system is one of the enzyme systems held responsible for bone and cartilage degradation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we evaluated the effect of tranexamic acid (TEA), an inhibitor of plasminogen activation, on urinary collagen cross-link excretion and radiological joint damage in rat adjuvant arthritis (AA) and on urinary collagen cross-link excretion in patients with RA.

In the patient study, TEA was administered to nine patients with RA as adjuvant medication (approximately 20 mg/kg body weight, three times daily) for 12 weeks. Urinary HP and LP excretion levels were measured before and during TEA treatment, and 4 weeks after the cessation of TEA treatment.

In RA patients, a significant reduction of HP and LP excretion was found during the TEA treatment period (P < 0.05). After the cessation of TEA treatment, HP and LP excretion increased towards baseline levels. No effect on disease activity was observed. The plasmin antagonist TEA reduced the excretion of collagen pyridinoline cross-links in both experimental and rheumatoid arthritis. As such, this study not only supports the involvement of the plasminogen activation system in the destructive phase of arthritis, but also suggests a beneficial effect of therapeutic strategies directed against inhibition of matrix proteolysis.