Intrauterine medication with epsilon aminocaproic acid: Effect on rhesus monkeys wearing intrauterine devices

Abstract

Menstrual blood loss was quantitated in a group of rhesus monkeys before and after intrauterine insertions of silicone rubber devices alone, polyethylene devices alone, and polyethylene plus silicone rubber devices. Silicone rubber was used as the carrier of epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) in order to provide sustained drug release in utero . Silicone rubber devices without EACA were used as control devices. A beneficial effect of intrauterine medication with EACA on uterine hemorrhage was demonstrated in monkeys wearing intrauterine devices (IUDs). With the nonmedicated silicone rubber devices alone, MBL increased 96% over preinsertion values, whereas the EACA-releasing silicone rubber devices resulted in only a 33% increase, during the first menstrual period after insertion. Mean menstrual blood volume was increased 109% over preinsertion values (baseline) in animals wearing polyethylene IUDs alone and 132% over baseline in those wearing polyethylene plus control silicone rubber devices; whereas, average menstrual blood loss was increased only 44% in monkeys wearing polyethylene plus EACA silicone rubber devices. Neither a localized or disseminated intravascular coagulation resulting from intrauterine EACA medication was detectable by assay of circulating levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, and fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products.