Clinical Trial: Use of TXA to Prevent Postpartum Hemorrhage

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional




Official Title: Prophylactic Use of Tranexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Trial

Brief Summary:

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) occurs in up to one in ten deliveries worldwide and is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. In developing countries 30% of women develop PPH because access to a number of treatments is not readily available. Interestingly, the rate of PPH and consequently of maternal morbidity has increased significantly even in developed nations, such as Canada, over the past decades. This rate is also increasing amongst parturients in Ontario. Unfortunately, few effective preventative treatments exist.

Antifibrinolytic drugs are routinely used to reduce bleeding and the requirement for blood transfusions in a wide range of hemorrhagic conditions. The most commonly used antifibrinolytic drug is tranexamic acid (TXA). TXA is safe, affordable, with very few side effects. The World Health Organization recommended that TXA be used to reduce blood loss in several conditions, including in patients with established PPH refractory to conventional therapy.However, little is known about the prophylactic use of TXA to prevent PPH.