Tranexamic acid and obstetric hemorrhage: give empirically or selectively?

Abstract

Antifibrinolytic agents such as tranexamic acid (TXA) inhibit the fibrinolytic pathway and protect blood clots from being degraded, thereby promoting hemostasis. They have been used to reduce blood loss in various settings including obstetrics. Based on current evidence, TXA can be considered as a therapeutic adjunct to control postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal and cesarean deliveries, with earlier administration preferred. This strategy has been demonstrated to reduce mortality due to bleeding (but not the incidence of transfusion) in developing countries. On the other hand, the benefit-risk ratio of TXA has not been fully assessed in developed countries which have much lower PPH-related mortality rates and better access to other management modalities. As a proposed prophylactic agent to prevent PPH, the level of evidence is currently insufficient to recommend the routine use of TXA to prevent blood loss after vaginal and cesarean deliveries. The results of large new multicenter studies assessing the impact of TXA on maternal blood loss-related outcomes after cesarean delivery are awaited. While most studies to date have focused on empirical and one-size-fit-all dosing of TXA, more selective and individualized treatment protocols (possibly guided by functional coagulation assays) are needed to pave the way for safer and more effective use of this inexpensive and widely used medication.

Keywords: Antifibrinolytics; Maternal mortality; Obstetric hemorrhage; Postpartum hemorrhage; Tranexamic acid.