Therapeutic effect of tranexamic acid on traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Objective Tranexamic acid exhibits certain therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the safety and efficacy of TXA in patients with TBI. Methods The databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases, were systematically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of tranexamic acid for traumatic brain injury from January 2000 to November 2023. Results The present meta-analysis encompasses six RCTs. Compared with placebo group in patients with traumatic brain injury, tranexamic acid results in remarkably reduced mortality (P < 0.001), hemorrhage growth (P = 0.03), the volume of hemorrhage growth (P = 0.003), but has no important impact on neurosurgery (P = 0.86), seizures (P = 0.19) and pulmonary embolism (P = 0.63). Conclusion The administration of tranexamic acid is significantly associated with reduced mortality and hemorrhage growth in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, while the incidence of neurosurgery requirement, seizures, and pulmonary embolism remains comparable to that observed with placebo.