title: Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism in dogs treated with tranexamic acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many questions remain regarding the pathogenesis, natural history, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in patients. To answer such questions, we developed an animal model of this disorder. The brisk thrombolytic response of canines to acute embolism has, previously, prevented the establishment of such a model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fibrinolytic inhibitor tranexamic acid was given orally to canines before, and for intervals after, pulmonary emboli were released from venous thrombi formed in vivo in femoral veins or the inferior vena cava. Preliminary studies disclosed that embolic residuals from femoral vein thrombi were not sufficient to cause significant, persistent pulmonary hypertension. With repetitive, larger thrombi embolized from the inferior vena cava, however, persistent pulmonary hypertension was achieved in most animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resolution of emboli in the canine can be inhibited by tranexamic acid. As in humans, a spectrum of embolic residuals is encountered, and the perfusion lung scan consistently underestimates the extent of embolic residuals. Studies of this animal model continue.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, University of California, School of Medicine, San Diego 92103-1990.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cantor
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Villespin
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Graif
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konopka
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology*; D011292:Premedication; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014148:Tranexamic Acid; D013917:Thrombin