Topical aminocaproic acid significantly reduces the incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema in the rabbit model
R. R. Allingham, E. R. Crouch Jr, P. B. Williams, J. C. Catlin, D. M. Loewy and J. Jacobson
Department of Ophthalmology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
Systemically administered aminocaproic acid has been shown to reduce the
incidence of secondary hemorrhage after traumatic hyphema. To date, no
topical treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence
of rebleeding in a double-masked study. Experimentally induced traumatic
hyphemas in the rabbit model were treated with topical placebo gel (4%
carboxypolymethylene gel only) or carboxypolymethylene gel with
amino-caproic acid (treated group) in a double-masked fashion and were
compared with untreated controls (control group). In both the control and
placebo groups, there was a 33% rebleed rate. The treated eyes had a 10%
rebleed rate that is statistically significant. The topically applied
aminocaproic acid gel appears to be well tolerated locally without evidence
of systemic toxicity. This study indicates that topical aminocaproic acid
may be an effective alternative to systemic treatment to reduce the
incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema.
