High-Dose ϵ-Aminocaproic Acid Versus Aprotinin: Antifibrinolytic Efficacy in First-Time Coronary Operations

The antifibrinolytic efficacy of a high-dose regimen of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (epsilon-ACA) was compared with aprotinin in first-time coronary operations.In a prospective, double-blinded, randomized study, 20 patients received high-dose epsilon-ACA (10 g both as a loading and cardiopulmonary bypass priming dose, 2.5 g/h until 4 hours after protamine), and another 20 patients received aprotinin (2 x 10(6) KIU [280 mg] for loading and priming, 0.5 x 10(6) KIU/h [70 mg/h]). Ten untreated patients served as controls.Both agents reduced postoperative levels of thrombin/antithrombin III complexes, D-dimers, fibrin degradation products, free plasma hemoglobin (epsilon-ACA versus aprotinin, p =…