title: Medical therapy with tranexamic acid in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients with severe haematuria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gross haematuria is a common manifestation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). It can be spontaneous or the result of trauma, renal calculi, tumour, or infection. Spontaneous cyst bleeding is important in this particular group of patients, since it can be prolonged by local activation of fibrinolysis by urokinase. The management of haematuria in ADPKD is usually conservative, including bed rest, blood transfusion, correction of blood disorders, and use of vasopressin and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. In some patients, the management of gross or life-threatening haematuria may require embolisation and/or nephrectomy. Nonetheless, other methods have been tried to avoid prolonged hospitalisation and nephrectomy and preserve kidney function, such as the use of anti-fibrinolytics. Tranexamic acid was recently suggested as a tool to treat gross haematuria in ADPKD in isolated cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the response to tranexamic acid in a group of 8 patients with ADPKD and gross haematuria unresponsive to conventional treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The massive bleeding stopped within 2 to 5 days in all patients. The haemoglobin level and renal function subsequently stabilised. There were no side effects or thromboembolic events. In this case series, the largest prospective study so far published and the only one including different degrees of renal function, tranexamic acid is confirmed as a promising tool for treating haematuria due to intracystic bleeding in ADPKD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, tranexamic acid can be used safely in ADPKD patients with chronic renal impairment or preserved renal function to treat severe haematuria poorly responsive to conventional therapy. Tranexamic acid can be administered orally or IV; and dose adjustment for renal impairment is important. Tranexamic acid therapy may preserve renal function in ADPKD directly, by stopping haematuria episodes, or indirectly, by preventing embolisation and/or nephrectomy. The major limitation of this study is the small sample size and the lack of an untreated control group. We suggest a prospective, randomised controlled study to confirm the efficacy of this treatment, its long-term safety, and the optimal dosage. Further larger and multicentre studies are needed to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio and the limits of this therapy in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario La Paz, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain. cpeces@varnetmail.com
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peces
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peces
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selgas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016891:Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid