title: Thrombolysis with recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator in patients with peripheral artery and bypass graft occlusions.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with thrombosed peripheral arteries and bypass grafts, as confirmed by angiography, were treated with recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Twenty-six patients were treated with a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/hr and seven patients with 0.05 mg/kg/hr. Thrombus lysis and clinical improvement occurred in 22 of 26 (85%) patients in the 0.1 mg/kg/hr group. In seven of seven (100%) patients in the 0.05 mg/kg/hr group angiographic as well as clinical improvement were observed. Fifteen of the 33 patients required anticoagulation to maintain patency. Sixteen required secondary procedures to maintain patency. One (3%) patient required a blood transfusion for a hematoma at the catheter entry site. Three other patients developed small hematomas that were controlled without transfusion or intervention. Sixty-one percent of patients treated with the 0.01 mg/kg/hr dose and 86% of patients treated with the 0.05 mg/kg/hr dose maintained fibrinogen levels greater than 50% of their initial values. Infusion durations ranged from 1 to 6 hr (mean 3.9 hr). rt-PA appears to be a potent and selective thrombolytic agent that rapidly and safely lyses thrombi in peripheral arteries and occluded bypass grafts.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator