Aminocaproic acid reduces the risk of secondary hemorrhage in patients with traumatic hyphema
B. Kutner, S. Fourman, K. Brein, S. Hobson, D. Mrvos, J. Sheppard and S. Weisman
In a prospective, randomized, double-masked study, 34 patients (34 eyes)
with nonperforating ocular injury and traumatic hyphema were treated with
either aminocaproic acid (Amicar), 100 mg/kg every four hours, up to a
maximum of 30 g/d, or placebo for five days. None of 21 patients who were
treated with aminocaproic acid rebled, while three (23%) of 13 patients who
were treated with placebo rebled. This difference was statistically
significant. Of the three patients who rebled, two required surgical
intervention, with one patient requiring four surgical procedures. Although
complications following aminocaproic acid therapy included
light-headedness, nausea and vomiting, and systemic hypotension, only one
patient was withdrawn from the study because of drug-related adverse
reactions. This study strongly confirms that aminocaproic acid therapy
significantly reduces the incidence of secondary hemorrhage following
traumatic hyphema.
