Cheap drug 'cuts need for blood transfusions'

Offering surgery patients tranexamic acid could markedly reduce the need for transfusions in planned operations

Offering a cheap drug to patients about to undergo planned operations could cut the need for blood transfusions by a third, say doctors who claim it could also save the NHS £25 million a year.

The drug, called tranexamic acid, works by helping blood clot more effectively. Its effects at stabilising blood clots have been known for years, and it is even sold over the counter to women with heavy periods.

However, it is not routinely used in elective NHS operations like hip replacements.

Now doctors at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have conducted a review of 129 clinical trials, comparing patients undergoing a wide range of planned operations who received the drug, to those who did not.

They found it reduced the chance of a patient needing a blood transfusion by about a third. They estimated that if all such NHS patients were offered it, more than 100,000 could avoiding have a transfusion every year.

Writing in the British Medical Journal online (bmj.com), the authors concluded: "Strong evidence that tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusion in surgery has been available for many years.

"Surgical patients should be made aware of this evidence so that they can make an informed choice."

Professor Ian Roberts, one of the authors, added: "Blood transfusions can save lives but the procedure is not entirely without risk. Patients should be given more information and choice before they go ahead with a planned operation."

The study also suggests more widespread use of tranexamic acid would make economic sense, as a dose costs about £3, compared to the cost of a blood transfusion, which is about £125 per pint.

The researchers estimated that tranexamic acid use could save the NHS up to £25 million each year.

A spokesman for NHS Blood and Transplant said the study was interesting, but pointed out most blood stocks were not used for people undergoing planned operations. The majority was used to help those with low immune systems, such as those with cancer, HIV or sickle cell anaemia, she said.

She continued: "NHS Blood and Transplant welcomes this research and supports any medical advancement that reduces the probability of a patient requiring a blood transfusion as patient safety is paramount.

"Although this is interesting research, it isn't going to stop people needing regular blood transfusions to save or improve their lives."