Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces mortality in severe trauma cases. However, the relationships between TXA administration and coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities are unclear. We performed a retrospective observational study to investigate relationships between mortality and coagul...

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Main Authors: Yuki Takahashi, Mineji Hayakawa, Yuki Itagaki, Kota Ono, Daisuke Kudo, Shigeki Kushimoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Thrombosis Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00723-x
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author Yuki Takahashi
Mineji Hayakawa
Yuki Itagaki
Kota Ono
Daisuke Kudo
Shigeki Kushimoto
author_facet Yuki Takahashi
Mineji Hayakawa
Yuki Itagaki
Kota Ono
Daisuke Kudo
Shigeki Kushimoto
author_sort Yuki Takahashi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces mortality in severe trauma cases. However, the relationships between TXA administration and coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities are unclear. We performed a retrospective observational study to investigate relationships between mortality and coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities of patients on arrival at the emergency department and whether TXA is more effective in patients with severe trauma who have coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities than in those who do not. Methods Data was collected from 15 tertiary emergency and critical care centers in Japan. Adult patients with blunt trauma and an Injury Severity Score of ≥ 16 were included in the study. Patients were categorized into two groups: the TXA group received TXA within 3 h of arrival, and the non-TXA group did not. Results Overall, 790 patients were included (TXA group, 276; non-TXA group, 514). In cubic spline curves for relationships between mortality and coagulation/fibrinolysis variables on arrival, odds for mortality increased and plateaued with a prothrombin time-international normalized ratio ≥ 1.2; the disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score showed a marked odds increase when > 4 points. Odds increased and plateaued from an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of ≥ 35 s and gradually increased as fibrinogen decreased from 250 mg/dL. Fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer exhibited upward-sloping curves. In cubic spline curves for relationships between the effectiveness of TXA administration and coagulation/fibrinolysis variables on arrival, a favorable effect on mortality was observed with TXA administration when fibrinogen was ≤ 200 mg/dL or when the DIC score was ≥ 4 points; FDP, ≥ 50 µg/mL; D-dimer, ≥ 30 µg/mL; or APTT, ≥ 35 s. In each threshold subgroup, interactions between TXA administration and in-hospital mortality were observed. Conclusions TXA demonstrates increased effectiveness in patients with traumatic coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities.
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spelling doaj-art-43e1e9373f1745d6a700357ba7f5b3a52025-08-20T02:28:42ZengBMCThrombosis Journal1477-95602025-04-0123111010.1186/s12959-025-00723-xCoagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective studyYuki Takahashi0Mineji Hayakawa1Yuki Itagaki2Kota Ono3Daisuke Kudo4Shigeki Kushimoto5Emergency and Critical Care Center, Hokkaido University HospitalEmergency and Critical Care Center, Hokkaido University HospitalEmergency and Critical Care Center, Hokkaido University HospitalOno Biostat ConsultingDivision of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of MedicineDivision of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of MedicineAbstract Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces mortality in severe trauma cases. However, the relationships between TXA administration and coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities are unclear. We performed a retrospective observational study to investigate relationships between mortality and coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities of patients on arrival at the emergency department and whether TXA is more effective in patients with severe trauma who have coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities than in those who do not. Methods Data was collected from 15 tertiary emergency and critical care centers in Japan. Adult patients with blunt trauma and an Injury Severity Score of ≥ 16 were included in the study. Patients were categorized into two groups: the TXA group received TXA within 3 h of arrival, and the non-TXA group did not. Results Overall, 790 patients were included (TXA group, 276; non-TXA group, 514). In cubic spline curves for relationships between mortality and coagulation/fibrinolysis variables on arrival, odds for mortality increased and plateaued with a prothrombin time-international normalized ratio ≥ 1.2; the disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score showed a marked odds increase when > 4 points. Odds increased and plateaued from an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of ≥ 35 s and gradually increased as fibrinogen decreased from 250 mg/dL. Fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer exhibited upward-sloping curves. In cubic spline curves for relationships between the effectiveness of TXA administration and coagulation/fibrinolysis variables on arrival, a favorable effect on mortality was observed with TXA administration when fibrinogen was ≤ 200 mg/dL or when the DIC score was ≥ 4 points; FDP, ≥ 50 µg/mL; D-dimer, ≥ 30 µg/mL; or APTT, ≥ 35 s. In each threshold subgroup, interactions between TXA administration and in-hospital mortality were observed. Conclusions TXA demonstrates increased effectiveness in patients with traumatic coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00723-xCoagulopathyDisseminated intravascular coagulationTranexamic acidTrauma-induced coagulopathy
spellingShingle Yuki Takahashi
Mineji Hayakawa
Yuki Itagaki
Kota Ono
Daisuke Kudo
Shigeki Kushimoto
Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study
Thrombosis Journal
Coagulopathy
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Tranexamic acid
Trauma-induced coagulopathy
title Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study
title_full Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study
title_fullStr Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study
title_short Coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma: a multicenter retrospective study
title_sort coagulopathy as a predictor of the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in severe blunt trauma a multicenter retrospective study
topic Coagulopathy
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Tranexamic acid
Trauma-induced coagulopathy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00723-x
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