The effects of ε-aminocaproic acid on fibrinolysis and thrombin generation during cardiac surgery

Thomas F. Slaughter, Fariba Faghih, Charles S. Greenberg, John B. Leslie, Robert N. Sladen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite the efficacy of antifibrinolytic drugs in reducing bleeding after cardiac surgery, concerns remain regarding their potential to promote thrombosis. We examined the effect of the antifibrinolytic drug, ε- aminocaproic acid (EACA) on fibrinolysis and thrombin generation during cardiac surgery. Forty-one adults undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were prospectively randomized in a double-blind trial to receive either saline or EACA. A loading dose of 150 mg/kg EACA was given before anesthetic induction, followed by a 15 mg·kg-1η-1 infusion, which continued until 3 h after CPB. Plasma samples for the measurement of D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin III, and soluble fibrin were obtained before surgery, 1 h on CPB, and 3 and 20 h after CPB. In the EACA group, fibrinolytic activity, as measured by D- dimer, was significantly decreased 3 h after CPB, (0.51 ± 0.15 mg/L vs 1.13 ± 0.14 mg/L, P < 0.005). Decreased fibrinolytic activity was accompanied by decreased bleeding in the EACA group (660 ± 127 mL vs 931 ± 113 mL, P < 0.05). No differences in the generation of thrombin or soluble fibrin were apparent between the two groups. Suppression of fibrinolytic activity in the absence of concomitant reductions in thrombin generation suggests that EACA could potentiate a hypercoagulable prethrombotic state in the perioperative setting. Implications: In a randomized, prospective trial of primary cardiac surgery, we demonstrated that the synthetic antifibrinolytic drug ε- aminocaproic acid suppresses fibrinolysis with no effects on thrombin generation. These results suggest the potential for synthetic antifibrinolytic drugs to induce a hypercoagulable prethrombotic state in the perioperative setting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1221-1226
Number of pages6
JournalAnesthesia and analgesia
Volume85
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of ε-aminocaproic acid on fibrinolysis and thrombin generation during cardiac surgery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this