The Effect of Gallium Nitrate on Arresting Blood Flow from a Wound

Paul H Goodley,Moshe Rogosnitzky

doi:10.1155/2011/819710

Abstract

A novel application of gallium nitrate, hitherto unreported, in reducing bleeding time from an open wound is presented. Experiments performed using simple punctures in the forearm demonstrated a very substantial reduction in bleeding time when a solution of gallium nitrate was applied relative to a control. This outcome was shown to be unaffected by the anticoagulant properties of warfarin. The mechanism for such action of gallium nitrate is unknown and merits further investigation, as do the possibilities for such an application to improve both civilian and defense trauma treatment modalities.

Highlights

Gallium nitrate, the gallium salt of nitric acid, is a drug predominantly used to treat symptomatic hypercalcemia secondary to cancer [1]
The times after which blood flow ceased for each subject and each puncture are noted in Table 1, along with pertinent observations of the presence or absence of clotting
It may be that gallium nitrate interacts with coagulation factors in a manner similar to current commercial products; it would be important to examine whether this effect takes place only on open wounds or whether gallium nitrate has an internal procoagulant effect, which would necessitate consideration when it is used as a therapeutic medicine

Summary

Introduction

The gallium salt of nitric acid, is a drug predominantly used to treat symptomatic hypercalcemia secondary to cancer [1]. Gallium nitrate has been used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma [5, 6], multiple myeloma [7], and Paget’s disease of bone [8]. We present a novel action of gallium nitrate, that of stemming blood flow from an open wound via a mechanism of action as yet undetermined. After the serendipitous discovery of the blood-flow arresting properties of gallium nitrate by one of our authors, the authors conducted an experiment on themselves to explore this discovery further and so determine the benefit of gallium in stopping the bleeding from wounds

Case Presentation

Discussion

Conclusions