Systemic aminocaproic acid reduces fibrinolysis in aqueous humor

D. M. Loewy, P. B. Williams, E. R. Crouch Jr and W. J. Cooke

Systemically administered aminocaproic acid has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema. To directly determine the concentration of aminocaproic acid in the aqueous humor, four groups of rabbits were studied following administration of four different regimens of intravenously administered aminocaproic acid. Plasma and aqueous humor samples were assayed for drug content and antifibrinolytic activity. Peak aqueous humor concentrations of aminocaproic acid ranged from 2.5 to 33 mg/dL and varied according to the systemic dose administered. The antifibrinolytic activity paralleled the aminocaproic acid content, with a peak range from 310 to 683 s. These findings indicate a direct relationship between antifibrinolytic activity and the concentration of aminocaproic acid in aqueous humor.