Researcher Tranexamic acid could prevent about 30,000 deaths annually from childbirth

Experts find effective drug for dangerous bleeding after delivery
An inexpensive and widely used drug could save the lives of tens of thousands of women each year. Researchers have now discovered that so-called tranexamic acid can protect expectant mothers from delivery of fatal bleeding.

Researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that the widely used drug, tranexamic acid, can protect newly-born mothers from fatal bleeding. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "The Lancet".

There are many health risks for the mother and child when giving birth to a child. Bleeding after birth causes more than 100,000 deaths per year worldwide. Safe and affordable medicines could now help to massively reduce the number of deaths. (Image: GordonGrand / fotolia.com)

More than 100,000 women die every year from postpartum bleeding
Post-partum bleeding (also known as postpartum bleeding) is the leading cause of maternal deaths in childbirth worldwide. More than 100,000 women die every year due to these complications, say the authors. The deaths could be reduced by about one-third if women receive tranexamic acid within three hours after the onset of bleeding, the experts explain.

How did physicians treat postpartum hemorrhages so far?
When a so-called postpartum hemorrhage occurs, it is very important for medical professionals to recognize the underlying cause as quickly as possible. Thus, the experts can then initiate effective treatment with the help of medication or surgery. Treatment with tranexamic acid could save many mothers from premature death in the future.

Efficacy of tranexamic acid in serious injury has long been known
Tranexamic acid is a simple and safe medicine. It has previously been established that it can reduce death from bleeding in people with serious injuries, the researchers explain. This type of treatment was first developed in the 1960s. Despite the hope that the intake could reduce the maternal death rates, was due to a lack of interest in doctors conducted for a long time no study on this subject, explain the Auotren the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Timely use of tranexamic acid saves lives
"We have now found important evidence that early use of tranexamic acid can save women's lives and make more children grow up with a mother," says author Prof. Haleema Shakur. The drug is safe and affordable. Hopefully physicians will be able to use tranexamic acid as soon as possible after the onset of major bleeding and thus save mothers from having to give birth before death, adds the expert.

Tranexamic acid has no unpleasant side effects
The drug has no known negative side effects. It was developed by a team of researchers led by the Japanese couple Shosuke and Utako Okamoto. More than 20,000 mothers took part in the current study. The researchers found that by using tranexamic acid, maternal mortality can be reduced by about 19 percent.

Maternal mortality can ideally be reduced by 31 percent
The researchers said maternal mortality can be reduced by as much as 31 percent if the drug is administered within three hours of birth. The investigations took place at a total of 21 locations. Among them were countries with some of the highest rates of maternal mortality, say the researchers. About 98 percent of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, the authors explain. In these countries, a so-called hysterectomy is commonly used to treat mothers with bleeding. (As)