The CRASH-2 Results and News

New hopes to cut deaths from serious injury – global trial CRASH-2 shows a simple jab of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) could save up to 100,000 lives a year.

TXA is a blood clot stabiliser that reduces death in trauma patients with significant haemorrhage. A new analysis of the 2010 CRASH-2 study shows that TXA should be given as early as possible to bleeding trauma patients; if treatment is not given until three hours or later after injury, it is less effective and could even be harmful.

The CRASH-2 trial investigated the importance of early treatment with tranexamic acid (TXA) in bleeding trauma patients and was a randomised controlled trial

The aim of the CRASH-2 trial was to assess the effects of early administration of TXA on death, vascular occlusive events, and blood transfusion in trauma patients with significant haemorrhage. TXA significantly reduced all-cause mortality.

Because TXA is thought to exert its effect through inhibition of fibrinolysis, we undertook exploratory analyses of its effect on death due to bleeding.

The results showed TXA should be given as early as possible to bleeding trauma patients. For trauma patients admitted late after injury, TXA is less effective and could be harmful.

After the CRASH-2 trial, tranexamic acid was added to the WHO List of Essential Medicines (March 2011)

Read The CRASH-2 Trial published by The Lancet HERE

For more information on CRASH-2 Results head to the trial website.