ab21313

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

W.H. van der Laan^1,2,4, H.K. Ronday³, J.M. TeKoppele¹, F.C. Breedveld², T.W.J. Huizinga², J.H. Verheijen¹

¹Division of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden; ²Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; ³Department of Rheumatology, Leyenburg Hospital, The Hague; ⁴Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT
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.

Key words
Rheumatoid arthritis, tranexamic acid, joint destruction, pyridinolines, plasmin.

Please address correspondence to: Dr. J.H. Verheijen, Division of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Prevention and Health, PO Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands.
E-mail: JH.Verheijen@pg.tno.nl

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