No therapeutic effect of plasmin antagonist tranexamic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study

Objective. In the present study, the effects of plasmin antagonist tranexamic acid (TEA) on urinary pyridinoline excretion rates were investigated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods. The study was set up as a double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study. Ten patients received tranexamic acid and 9 received placebo for 12 weeks. Urinary excretion rates of hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) and lysylpyridinoline (LP) were used as molecular markers of articular cartilage and bone degradation. In addition, clinical parameters of disease activity were assessed and CRP levels were measured. Results. Treatment with TEA did not reduce pyridinoline excretion, nor was any effect observed on clinical parameters of disease activity or on CRP levels. Conclusion. The results of the present pilot study show no beneficial effect of TEA as adjuvant therapy in RA patients with respect to joint destruction or disease activity.