title: [Usefulness of tranexamic acid in patients with severe head injury].
abstract: It is known that patients with severe head injury experience marked hypercoagulability and excessive hyperfibrinolysis due to the release of tissue factors from injured cerebral parenchyma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of tranexamic acid (TA) in patients with single, severe head trauma, who showed a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 8 or D-dime > or = 20 microg ml-1. Twenty-five patients receiving TA [TA (+) ] were given the agent 2 g taking 30 minutes soon after their visit. Those not receiving TA [TA (--)] were 25 consecutive patients who met the criteria before the initiation of treatment with TA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality rate was 4% in TA (+) and 24% in TA (-), significantly lower than in the former. The prognosis showed a tendency to improve in TA (+), but without significant differences between the groups. D-dimer was compared between the groups with a favorable prognosis in TA (+) and those in TA (-), its value was significantly higher in the former (60+/-56 microg ml-1) than the latter (28 +/- 27 microg ml-1) group. In addition, no thrombotic complications occurred in the former.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with severe head injury receiving TA showed a significantly better mortality rate without complications suggesting its usefulness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki 569-8686.
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Majima
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawakami
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid