Tranexamic acid attenuates inflammatory effect and modulates immune response in primary total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot trial

To explore the effect of intravenous tranexamic acid (IV-TXA) on inflammation and immune response following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Primary TKA patients (n = 125) were randomized into the following four groups: group A to receive placebo; group B to receive a single dose of 20 mg kg⁻¹ IV-TXA and 20 mg of intravenous dexamethasone (IV-DXM); group C to receive six doses of IV-TXA (total dosage > 6 g); and group D to receive six doses of IV-TXA combined with three doses of IV-DXM (total dosage = 40 mg). The primary outcomes were C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels and the secondary outcomes were complement C3 and C4 and T-cell subset levels, which were measured preoperatively and at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 2 weeks postoperatively.

The postoperative peak CRP and IL-6 levels in group C (93.7 ± 22.2 mg L⁻¹, 108.8 ± 41.7 pg mL⁻¹) were lower compared with those in group A (134.7 ± 28.8 mg L⁻¹, P < 0.01; 161.6 ± 64.4 pg mL⁻¹, P < 0.01). Groups B and D exhibited significantly lower CRP and IL-6 levels compared with groups A and C at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively (P < 0.05 for all). In group C, complement C3 and C4 levels were higher compared with those in group A at 48 h (0.967 ± 0.127 g L⁻¹ vs. 0.792 ± 0.100 g L⁻¹, P < 0.01; 0.221 ± 0.046 g L⁻¹ vs. 0.167 ± 0.028 g L⁻¹, P < 0.01) and 72 h (1.050 ± 0.181 g L⁻¹ vs. 0.860 ± 0.126 g L⁻¹, P = 0.01; 0.240 ± 0.052 g L⁻¹ vs. 0.182 ± 0.036 g L⁻¹, P < 0.01) postoperatively and CD3 and CD4 subset levels were higher compared with those in group B at 24 h postoperatively (66.78 ± 9.29% vs. 56.10 ± 12.47%, P < 0.05; 36.69 ± 5.78% vs. 28.39 ± 8.89%, P < 0.05).

Six doses of IV-TXA could attenuate the inflammatory effect, modulate the immune response, and reduce immunosuppression caused by DXM in patients after TKA.