title: [Value of moderate doses of urokinase combined with heparin in the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism. A retrospective study of 33 cases].
abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a moderate dose of urokinase (UK : 2000 IU/kg/h) for at least 24 h in a series of 23 patients with massive pulmonary emboli (PE) (mean pulmonary vascular obstruction = 70 +/- 7%). All patients received heparin in conjunction with UK. A control pulmonary angiography, performed at the end of UK therapy, revealed an important decrease in pulmonary obstruction (-50%). One patient died before the end of UK therapy from shock due to PE (early mortality = 4.3%). Severe hemorrhagic complications occurred in 3 patients (13%) and dictated the stoppage of UK administration, but bleeding was never the cause of death or sequelae. Thus, moderate doses of UK associated with heparin appear to effectively induce clot lysis in patients with massive pulmonary emboli. The incidence of hemorrhagic complications should be decreased by strictly respecting all contraindications to the use of thrombolytic agents and by avoiding excessive heparinization.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pneumologie et Réanimation, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laaban
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poubeau
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Horellou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ecoiffier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samama
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rochemaure
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
vernacular_title: Intérêt de l'urokinase á doses modérées associée á l'héparine dans le traitment des embolies pulmonaires massives. Etude rétrospective de 23 observations.