Study suggests drug can cut deaths from traumatic brain injury

A low-cost and widely available drug could reduce deaths in traumatic brain injury patients by up to 20%, new research suggests.

Depending on the severity of the injury, scientists say tranexamic acid (TXA) has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives.

It prevents bleeding into the brain by inhibiting blood clot breakdown.

Led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine the global trial included 12,737 head injury cases who had intravenous tranexamic acid or a placebo.

The study found that administration of TXA within three hours of injury reduced deaths.

Scientists said the effect was greatest in patients with mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI), with a 20% reduction.

But there was no clear benefit in the most severely injured patients.

Ian Roberts, professor of clinical trials at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who co-led the study, said: “We already know that rapid administration of tranexamic acid can save lives in patients with life-threatening bleeding in the chest or abdomen such as we often see in victims of traffic crashes, shootings or stabbings.

“This hugely exciting new result shows early treatment with TXA also cuts deaths from head injury. It’s an important breakthrough and the first neuroprotective drug for patients with head injury.”

Patients were recruited from 175 hospitals across 29 countries.

A common complication of TBI is bleeding around the brain, leading to brain compression and death.

Patients with very severe head injuries – less than 10% of cases – are unlikely to benefit from the drug.

Researchers say TBI is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with an estimated 69 million new cases each year.

Antoni Belli, professor of trauma neurosurgery at the University of Birmingham and co-investigator for trial, said: “After decades of research and many unsuccessful attempts, this is the first ever clinical trial to show a drug can reduce mortality after traumatic brain injury.”