Effect of tranexamic acid on the treatment of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial

Objective: To determine the efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Methods: A total of 70 patients with acute upper GI bleeding were included in this double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial from September 2018 to December 2018. Patients were divided into the control group (received fluid therapy and intravenous infusion of pantoprazole, 35 cases) and the TXA group (received intravenous TXA besides the treatment of control group, 35 cases). Rebleeding, admission duration, and need for blood transfusion were compared between the two groups. Results: Fifteen patients (42.9%) in the TXA group and 10 patients (28.6%) in the control group stayed in hospital for more than 3 days during their admission (P=0.21). Rebleeding occurred in 8 patients (22.9%) and 5 patients (14.3%) of the TXA group and the control group, respectively (P=0.35). More patients in the TXA group (21 cases, 60%) received blood transfusion than the control group (8 cases, 22.9%) (P=0.02). Conclusions: TXA did not improve the outcome of patients with acute upper GI bleeding.