Reduction of Postprostatectomy Bleeding by Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid

EPSILON-aminocaproic acid (EACA) is a potent inhibitor of plasminogen activation in relatively low concentrations (5 × 10–4M) and of plasmin at considerably higher concentrations (1 × 10–2M).1 , 2 This drug, first described by Japanese investigators, has the structural formula: Clinical studies have indicated that it is effective in hemorrhagic disorders associated with increased blood fibrinolytic activity,3 4 5 and its use in prostatic surgery was first suggested by McNicol and his associates.6 These investigators suggested that hemostasis in the prostatic bed might be disrupted by clot lysis induced by the presence in urine of urokinase, an activator of plasminogen. Administration of . . .