Researchers at Mayo Clinic and Michigan State University have uncovered a potentially life-saving application for tranexamic acid, a widely used clot-preserving medication, in the context of liver surgery.
The multi-center study, published in Blood, revealed that surgical patients administered tranexamic acid were significantly less likely — roughly one-third the risk — to develop post-hepatectomy liver failure compared to those given a placebo.
This complication, which occurs when the remaining liver tissue fails to regenerate following partial removal, carries no currently approved preventive treatment and is a major driver of post-surgical mortality.
The research challenges long-held assumptions about plasminogen’s role in liver recovery, suggesting that temporarily suppressing this fibrinolytic protein actually accelerates regeneration rather than hindering it.
Benefits were most pronounced among patients with pre-existing liver impairment — precisely those facing the greatest surgical risk.
Lead investigator Dr. Patrick Starlinger emphasized that while a dedicated confirmatory clinical trial remains necessary, the accessibility and affordability of tranexamic acid make these findings particularly compelling for improving outcomes globally.
Written By: Sayan Das
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
