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Hypersensitivity to tranexamic acid: a wide spectrum of adverse reactions

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Abstract

Cases description This is a retrospective study, based on analysis of data from patients with previous adverse drug reactions admitted to the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division of both the University of Messina and the University of Bari in the last 4 years. We observed five patients: four of them (two males and two females) with a well documented history of tranexamic acid hypersensitivity reactions and one female who showed a positive response to an intradermal challenge test with tranexamic acid. Conclusions Although the risk of immunogenic and severe allergic reactions to tranexamic acid is significantly lower than those associated with administration of other drugs, our experience points out that adverse reactions to tranexamic acid can occur. This drug may be responsible for a wide and various spectrum of hypersensitivity reactions characterized by different pathogenetic mechanisms (immunologic and non-immunologic). Etamsylate was a well tolerated alternative drug to tranexamic acid in all examined patients.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Francesco Cimino for pharmacological assistance, Dr. Stefania Isola for clinical assistance and Dr. Joseph Lipari for editing assistance.

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No financial support was provided for this study.

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None declared.

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Correspondence to Selene Imbesi.

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Imbesi, S., Nettis, E., Minciullo, P.L. et al. Hypersensitivity to tranexamic acid: a wide spectrum of adverse reactions. Pharm World Sci 32, 416–419 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-010-9415-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-010-9415-8

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