title: [Tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase) in acute massive pulmonary embolism. A pilot study].
abstract: Twenty six patients with acute (less than 5 days) pulmonary embolism (PE) confirmed by bilateral pulmonary angiography with a Miller index greater than 15 were given tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase) (rt-PA) intravenously (n = 20) or directly into the pulmonary artery (n = 6). The dosage was 100 mg/7 hours (bolus 10 mg + 40 mg/2 hours + 50 mg/5 hours). Heparin (5000 IV as a bolus and 1000 IV/hour) was associated in all cases. The Miller index decreased from 24 +/- 1 (n = 26) before treatment to 12 +/- 1 (n = 25) (p less than 0.001) after 100 mg of Alteplase, and from 25 +/- 0.4 (n = 14) to 22 +/- 0.5 (n = 14) (p less than 0.001) after 50 mg. The mean pulmonary arterial pressures fell from 30 +/- 2 mmHg to 21 +/- 2 mmHg after 50 mg (n = 26) (p less than 0.001) and to 14 +/- 1 (n = 25) (p less than 0.001) after 100 mg of Alteplase. A decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressures (-22%, p less than 0.001) and total pulmonary resistances (-29%, p less than 0.001) was obtained after one hour of thrombolysis in 12 monitored patients. There were no fatalities. Severe haemorrhage occurred in 6 cases. Therefore, Alteplase induced a rapid dissolution of recent intrapulmonary thrombi without inacceptable haemorrhagic complications. Its action could be particularly beneficial in patients with right ventricular failure due to life threatening pulmonary embolism.
authors.affiliation: Clinique cardiologique, CHU Trousseau, Tours.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Charbonnier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quilliet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pacouret
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Poitrineau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mannara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Desveaux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raynaud
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brochier
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
vernacular_title: Activateur tissulaire du plasminogène (alteplase) dans l'embolie pulmonaire aiguë massive. Etude pilote.