[Tranexamic acid: widely applicable, few risks].

Tranexamic acid is a cheap and easy to use drug for the treatment and prevention of bleeding. In the past, its use was mainly empiric and primarily in patients with coagulation disorders. More recently, large scale randomized controlled trials have shown that tranexamic acid reduces mortality in women with postpartum hemorrhage and in victims of trauma. In a number of surgical settings, including cardiothoracic and orthopedic, tranexamic acid reduces bleeding complications. In these studies, there was no signal of increased risk of thrombosis. Tranexamic acid is also effective in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding, the prevention of bleeding after dental interventions and a number of other high-prevalence conditions. There are no data that support an increased risk of thrombosis when patients without haemostatic disorders use tranexamic acid for a longer period, but addition studies would be helpful. Finally, the topical administration of the drug for mucocutaneous nuisance bleeds deserves more attention.