Tranexamic Acid: a low-cost, life-saving drug

Cochrane health evidence: Making a difference

[Each year 600,000 patients bleed to death worldwide]

Ian Roberts, Cochrane review author, Cochrane Injuries: "Traumatic injury is a leading cause of death worldwide. Many patients with traumatic injury actually bleed to death."

[The Cochrane Injuries Group showed there is a 10% reduction in death when patients are given tranexamic acid]

[Tranexamic Acid (TXA) is a drug prescribed over the counter for heavy menstrual bleeding and used in hospitals for orthopaedic surgery]

"What we found is that it reduces the risk of bleeding to death with no risk in the increase of thrombosis, so it's a tremendous result."

[Widespread use of TXA could save 128,000 lives each year]

"We didn't find any evidence of side effects. So, if you have a drug that helps clotting, you're obviously worried that it's going to cause clots where you don't want them, so causing thrombosis. To treat one bleeding patient would cost about £3. Now that reduces their risk of bleeding to death by one-sixth. There are very few cheaper ways to save a life than this."

[Based on results from this Cochrane review, the British military began to use TXA. TXA is now used by the United States, NATO and other armed forces around the world.]

[Many national ambulance services now use TXA. It has been added to the WHO essential medicines list.]