Background: This is the first blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GLcNAc) in improving hemostasis in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to have either a placebo-treated (n = 17) or a p-GlcNAc-treated (n = 16) 3 × 3-cm patch topically placed at the femoral insertion site at the completion of their catheterization procedure with a mechanical pressure clamp applied over it. The amount of pressure was measured.
Results: Although the placebo group had slightly higher clamp pressure applied to the femoral arterial puncture site at the end of the catheterization procedure (189 ± 47 vs. 149 ± 49 mm Hg, p = 0.042), the time to effective hemostasis (16 ± 7 vs. 10 ± 3 minutes, p = 0.01) was decreased in the p-GlcNAc group by 37%.
Conclusion: The application of p-GlcNAc patches improved hemostasis at the arterial puncture site in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.