Aminocaproic Acid (Aminocaproic Acid) - Summary

SUMMARY

AMINOCAPROIC ACID
INJECTION, USP

Aminocaproic Acid Injection, USP is 6-aminohexanoic acid, which acts as an inhibitor of fibrinolysis.

Aminocaproic Acid (aminocaproic acid) is indicated for the following:

Aminocaproic acid is useful in enhancing hemostasis when fibrinolysis contributes to bleeding. In life-threatening situations, fresh whole blood transfusions, fibrinogen infusions, and other emergency measures may be required.

Fibrinolytic bleeding may frequently be associated with surgical complications following heart surgery (with or without cardiac bypass procedures) and portacaval shunt; hematological disorders such as aplastic anemia; abruptio placentae; hepatic cirrhosis; neoplastic disease such as carcinoma of the prostate, lung, stomach, and cervix.

Urinary fibrinolysis, usually a normal physiological phenomenon, may frequently be associated with life-threatening complications following severe trauma, anoxia, and shock. Symptomatic of such complications is surgical hematuria (following prostatectomy and nephrectomy) or nonsurgical hematuria (accompanying polycystic or neoplastic diseases of the genitourinary system). (See WARNINGS.)

See all indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Aminocaproic Acid

Effect of epsilon aminocaproic acid on red-cell transfusion requirements in major spinal surgery. [2009.09.01]
STUDY DESIGN.: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial.Larger studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between EACA and total RBC requirements.

The effect of epsilon-aminocaproic acid and aprotinin on fibrinolysis and blood loss in patients undergoing primary, isolated coronary artery bypass surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, noninferiority trial. [2009.07]
BACKGROUND: Until recently, aprotinin was the only antifibrinolytic drug with a licensed indication in cardiac surgery in the United States. The most popular alternative, epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), has not been adequately compared with aprotinin. We undertook this study to test the hypothesis that EACA, when dosed appropriately, is not inferior to aprotinin at reducing fibrinolysis and blood loss... CONCLUSIONS: When dosed in a pharmacologically guided manner, EACA is not inferior to aprotinin in reducing fibrinolysis and blood loss in patients undergoing primary, isolated coronary artery bypass surgery.

Efficacy of aminocaproic, tranexamic acids in the control of bleeding during total knee replacement: a randomized clinical trial. [2006.05]
BACKGROUND: Risks and costs of allogeneic blood transfusions mandate strategies to reduce blood loss in surgery. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of antifibrinolytic treatment in reducing perioperative blood loss during total knee replacement... CONCLUSIONS: Antifibrinolytic agents produce a significant decrease in blood loss in patients undergoing total knee replacement, reflected in a reduction in the number of blood transfusions required.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of epsilon-aminocaproic Acid for reducing blood loss in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. [2006.02]
BACKGROUND: Epsilon-aminocaproic acid is a plasmin inhibitor that potentially reduces perioperative bleeding when administered prophylactically to cardiac surgery patients. To evaluate the efficacy of epsilon-aminocaproic acid, a prospective placebo-controlled trial was conducted in patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting surgery... CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid reduces postoperative thoracic-drainage volume by 30%, but it may not be potent enough to reduce the requirement and the risk for donor blood transfusion in cardiac surgery patients. This information is useful for deciding on a therapy for hemostasis in cardiac surgery.

Aprotinin and epsilon aminocaproic acid are effective in reducing blood loss after primary total hip arthroplasty--a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. [2005.07]
A prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and mechanism of action of two antifibrinolytic drugs aprotinin and epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) in reducing blood loss in primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA)...

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Aminocaproic Acid

Amicar Pharmacokinetics of Children Having Craniofacial Surgery [Recruiting]
Craniofacial reconstruction surgery involves a surgical approach to the craniofacial region to repair cranial vault and facial deformities. The surgery is extensive, often requiring wide scalp dissections and multiple osteotomies and has been associated with significant morbidity. Some of the most severe and commonly seen problems are associated with the rate and extent of blood loss.

Efforts to minimize surgical bleeding may translate to reduced transfusion requirements and a lessening of associated risks Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, reduces transfusion requirements in children undergoing procedures on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), as well as in older children undergoing spinal surgery for scoliosis (1-6).

Before controlled studies to assess efficacy of EACA in a craniofacial surgical population can be done, appropriate pharmacokinetic (PK) data are needed to determine the optimal dosing strategy. PK data exist for EACA in children undergoing operations on CPB and hypothermia.

The aim of this study is to determine the pharmacokinetics of EACA in infants and children undergoing craniofacial reconstruction procedures.

Tranexamic Acid (TXA) Versus Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid (EACA) Versus Placebo for Spine Surgery [Recruiting]
Tranexamic acid (TXA) and epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) have been reported to reduce blood loss in the cardiac surgery literature but they have not been reported in use head-to-head in the orthopedic surgery literature. In a randomized, double-blind, prospective study we believe that TXA will be more effective than both EACA and placebo at reducing blood loss for corrective spinal surgery.

Epsilon-Aminocaproaic Acid to Reduce the Need for Blood Transfusions During and Following Spine Surgery [Active, not recruiting]
Individuals who undergo spine surgery often have a significant loss of blood and may require multiple blood transfusions. Research has shown that epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) may reduce the amount of blood lost during surgery, which would decrease the number of blood transfusions required. This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of EACA at reducing blood loss and the need for blood transfusions in individuals undergoing spine surgery.

Bradykinin Receptor Antagonism During Cardiopulmonary Bypass- Specific Aim 3 [Recruiting]
Each year over a million patients worldwide undergo cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB is associated with significant morbidity including the transfusion of allogenic blood products, inflammation and hemodynamic instability. In fact, approximately 20% of all blood products transfused are associated with coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. Transfusion of allogenic blood products is associated with well-documented morbidity and increased mortality after cardiac surgery. Enhanced fibrinolysis contributes to increased blood product transfusion in the perioperative period. The current proposal tests the central hypothesis that endogenous bradykinin contributes to the hemodynamic, fibrinolytic and inflammatory response to CPB and that bradykinin receptor antagonism will reduce hypotension, inflammation and transfusion requirements. In SPECIFIC AIM 1 we will test the hypothesis that the fibrinolytic and inflammatory response to CPB differ during ACE inhibition and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonism. In SPECIFIC AIM 2 we will test the hypothesis that bradykinin B2 receptor antagonism attenuates the hemodynamic, fibrinolytic, and inflammatory response to CPB. In SPECIFIC AIM 3 we will test the hypothesis that bradykinin B2 receptor antagonism reduces the risk of allogenic blood product transfusion in patients undergoing CPB. These studies promise to provide important information regarding the effects of drugs that interrupt the RAS and generate new strategies to reduce morbidity in patients undergoing CPB.

Platelet Function And Aggregometry In Patients With Aortic Valve Stenosis [Recruiting]
It is known that patients with aortic stenosis, including those undergoing cardiac surgery for this problem, are prone to developing bleeding problems, particularly of the gastrointestinal tract. It is believed that the shear stress associated with blood flow through the abnormal aortic valve results in abnormal hemostasis. Abnormalities include increased proteolysis of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) and increased binding of the high molecular weight multimers of vWF to platelet membranes with subsequent inappropriate platelet aggregation. Thus, appropriate aggregation of circulating platelets is impaired. Cardiac surgery is associated with significant alterations in hemostasis. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery consume a significant percent of available blood products throughout the United States and are subjected to various and numerous risks associated with blood product transfusion. In addition, excessive postoperative bleeding is a common cause for the need to surgically re-explore the chest cavity in patients who have just undergone cardiac surgical procedures. Such additional surgery carries further cost and risk. Following surgical correction of aortic valve stenotic pathology, associated vWF abnormalities appear to reverse. However, this process can take several days. Although all cardiac surgical patients are at risk for postoperative bleeding, patients undergoing aortic valve surgery for aortic stenosis may be particularly at risk for this postoperative complication. In addition, patients with aortic valve stenosis who undergo noncardiac surgery may have a predisposition to bleeding because of similar underlying shear stress induced abnormal vWF and platelet function. The proposed study is a trial to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 different antifibrinolytic drugs in ameliorating the hemostatic defect associated with aortic stenosis. Aprotonin, an antifibrinolytic agent which also has platelet preserving actions4, will be compared to the currently used anti-fibrinolytic, epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA).

more trials >>