Treatment of recurrent severe hemoptysis in cystic fibrosis with tranexamic acid

Major hemoptysis is a potentially life-threatening complication of cystic f ibrosis (CF) lung disease. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) along with t reatment of a CF pulmonary exacerbation has become the most widely used the rapeutic approach for major hemoptysis in CF, However, BAE has been associa ted with severe complications, especially when bronchial artery to spinal a rtery anastomoses are present. This case study describes the successful tre atment of major hemoptysis in CF with tranexamic acid, in an individual in whom 12 previous BAE procedures had been performed and further procedures w ere contraindicated secondary to bronchial artery to spinal artery collater als. Recurrence of the hemoptysis occurred after attempts had been made to withdraw the tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid was resumed with resolution o f the hemoptysis, and the therapy has been used continuously for 13 months without any complications. Copyright(C)2001 S. Karger AG,Basel.