Early infusion of tranexamic acid in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury saves lives, according to the results of a large clinical trial.

The trial, known as CRASH-3, was carried out in 175 hospitals across 29 countries, and randomised 12,737 adults presenting to EDs with traumatic brain injury to either infusion of the antifibrinolytic or saline placebo.

Patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 12 or below, or CT evidence of intracranial bleeding, but had no extracranial bleeding, the authors reported in the Lancet.

The study found that just 5.8% of patients with mild to moderate injury (GCS of more than 8) treated with the drug within three hours of injury died from their injury within 28 days, compared with 7.5% given placebo.