Topically applied aminocaproic acid concentrates in the aqueous humor of the rabbit in therapeutic levels.

Systemically administered aminocaproic acid, used to reduce the incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema, has been shown to accumulate in the aqueous humor of rabbits in a dose-dependent manner. Eight topical preparations of aminocaproic acid were studied to determine aqueous humor concentrations. The vehicles studied included the following: sodium chloride, 0.85 g/dL; polyvinyl alcohol, 1.4 g/dL; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 0.4 g/dL; benzalkonium chloride, 0.01 g/dL; ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium, 0.01 g/dL; dimethyl sulfoxide, 11 and 39.6 g/dL; and carboxypolymethylene, 4 g/dL. All contained 735 g/L of aminocaproic acid except for dimethyl sulfoxide (39.6 g/dL) and carboxypolymethylene (4 g/dL), which contained 238 and 600 g/L of aminocaproic acid, respectively. Aqueous humor and plasma samples were assayed for aminocaproic acid content following topical administration. Aqueous humor concentrations of aminocaproic acid ranged from undetectable (less than 0.01 mg/dL) to 5.75 mg/dL. Plasma concentrations ranged from undetectable (less than 0.01 mg/dL) to 9.85 mg/dL. Polyvinyl alcohol (1.4 g/dL) and carboxy polymethylene (4 g/dL) provided the highest aqueous humor aminocaproic acid concentrations. The aqueous humor levels with topical aminocaproic acid administration were comparable with those achieved by systemic administration. Plasma drug levels with topical aminocaproic acid were between 5% and 33% of levels achieved by systemic aminocaproic acid. This study demonstrates that aminocaproic acid can be effectively delivered into the anterior chamber of rabbits by topical application.

Systemic aminocaproic acid reduces fibrinolysis in aqueous humor.

Systemically administered aminocaproic acid has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema. To directly determine the concentration of aminocaproic acid in the aqueous humor, four groups of rabbits were studied following administration of four different regimens of intravenously administered aminocaproic acid. Plasma and aqueous humor samples were assayed for drug content and antifibrinolytic activity. Peak aqueous humor concentrations of aminocaproic acid ranged from 2.5 to 33 mg/dL and varied according to the systemic dose administered. The antifibrinolytic activity paralleled the aminocaproic acid content, with a peak range from 310 to 683 s. These findings indicate a direct relationship between antifibrinolytic activity and the concentration of aminocaproic acid in aqueous humor.

Topical aminocaproic acid significantly reduces the incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema in the rabbit model.

Systemically administered aminocaproic acid has been shown to reduce the incidence of secondary hemorrhage after traumatic hyphema. To date, no topical treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of rebleeding in a double-masked study. Experimentally induced traumatic hyphemas in the rabbit model were treated with topical placebo gel (4% carboxypolymethylene gel only) or carboxypolymethylene gel with amino-caproic acid (treated group) in a double-masked fashion and were compared with untreated controls (control group). In both the control and placebo groups, there was a 33% rebleed rate. The treated eyes had a 10% rebleed rate that is statistically significant. The topically applied aminocaproic acid gel appears to be well tolerated locally without evidence of systemic toxicity. This study indicates that topical aminocaproic acid may be an effective alternative to systemic treatment to reduce the incidence of secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema.