• Jia Shi, Hongwen Ji, Facheng Ren, Gang Wang, Meiying Xu, Yuliang Xue, Min Chen, Juan Qi, and Lihuan Li.
• State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, China.
• JAMA Surg. 2013 Jun 1;148(6):538-47.

ImportanceExcessive bleeding and transfusion increase morbidity and mortality in patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), especially in those exposed to antiplatelet agents.ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence and interaction of clopidogrel bisulfate and tranexamic acid on bleeding and transfusion outcomes.DesignA multicenter randomized and blinded trial.SettingSeven medical centers across China.ParticipantsPatients eligible for randomization were 1173 men and women aged 18 to 85 years undergoing primary and isolated on-pump CABG; 570 adults were randomized and 552 were analyzed. Patients were recruited and stratified into 3 levels according to preoperative clopidogrel exposure (clopidogrel ingestion ≤7 days, clopidogrel discontinuation >7 days, and nonexposure).InterventionPatients were randomized to receive tranexamic acid (10-mg/kg-1 bolus and 10-mg/kg-1/h-1 maintenance dose) or placebo.Main Outcome MeasureThe primary outcomes included blood loss, major bleeding, and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion volume and exposure.ResultsAs compared with controls, clopidogrel increased blood loss (mean difference [MD], 270 mL; 95% CI, 135 to 404 mL), major bleeding (risk difference [RD], 18.5; 95% CI, 7.85 to 29.2), volume of RBCs transfused (MD, 2.97 U; 95% CI, 1.51 to 4.43 U), and RBC transfusion exposure (RD, 17.9; 95% CI, 8.51 to 27.2). As compared with placebo, tranexamic acid reduced blood loss (MD, -278 mL; 95% CI, -380 mL to -176 mL), major bleeding (RD, -19.5; 95% CI, -27.7 to -11.4), volume of RBCs transfused (MD, -2.58 U; 95% CI -3.61 U to -1.55 U), and RBC transfusion exposure (RD, -18.9; 95% CI, -26.4 to -11.4). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significantly enhanced effect of tranexamic acid especially in patients with impaired platelet function.Conclusions And RelevancePreoperative clopidogrel exposure increased bleeding and transfusion requirements in patients receiving on-pump CABG. Tranexamic acid reduced this risk and provided extra protection selectively in the patients with persistent clopidogrel exposure within 7 days before surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATIONL clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01060163.

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