High dose of tranexamic acid for treatment of severe menorrhagia in patients with von Willebrand disease

Abstract

Menorrhagia is one of the most important and frequent complications in women with congenital von Willebrand disease (vWD). Three cases of menorrhagia with vWD (type 1; 1 case, type 2A; 2 cases) were successfully treated with tranexamic acid at dose of 3 grams daily in four divided doses for the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle. All patients had severe menorrhagia lasted for more than 10 days with iron deficiency anemia of hemoglobin levels of 6.5-8.4 g/dl. Common dosage of tranexamic acid of 1 gram daily in 4 divided doses on days 1-5 of their menstrual cycles did not correct their menorrhagia. The treatment was then changed to the daily dose of 3 grams in 4 divided doses on days 1-5 of their menstrual cycles. Thereafter, their menorrhagia became well-controlled with improvement of their anemia up to hemoglobin of 11.5-12.4 g/dl. High dose of tranexamic acid has been administered safely in all patients for 3-5 years without significant complications. Oral high-dose administration of tranexamic acid is very convenient and useful for treatment of menorrhagia in the patients with vWD.