No therapeutic effect of plasmin antagonist tranexamic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, the effects of plasmin antagonist tranexamic acid (TEA) on urinary pyridinoline excretion rates were investigated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.


METHODS
The study was set up as a double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study. Ten patients received tranexamic acid and 9 received placebo for 12 weeks. Urinary excretion rates of hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) and lysylpyridinoline (LP) were used as molecular markers of articular cartilage and bone degradation. In addition, clinical parameters of disease activity were assessed and CRP levels were measured.


RESULTS
Treatment with TEA did not reduce pyridinoline excretion, nor was any effect observed on clinical parameters of disease activity or on CRP levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present pilot study show no beneficial effect of TEA as adjuvant therapy in RA patients with respect to joint destruction or disease activity.
van der Laan
W H
WH
Division of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Prevention and Health, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Ronday
H K
HK
TeKoppele
J M
JM
Breedveld
F C
FC
Huizinga
T W
TW
Verheijen
J H
JH
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000596:Amino Acids; C015484:pyridinoline; D014148:Tranexamic Acid; D005341:Fibrinolysin