title: Understanding the TXA seizure connection.
abstract: Transexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic that has been used successfully to prevent blood loss during major surgery. However, as its usage has increased, there have been growing reports of postsurgical seizure events in cardiac surgery patients. In this issue of the JCI, Lecker et al. explore this connection and suggest that TXA-mediated inhibition of glycine receptors may underlie the effect. This finding prompted the authors to explore the preclinical efficacy of common anesthetics that function by reducing the TXA-mediated inhibition to prevent or modify postsurgical seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Biochemistry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1101, USA. debra-schwinn@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schwinn
authors.forename: G Burkhard
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mackensen
authors.forename: Emery N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D014148:Tranexamic Acid