Successful treatment of empyema thoracis with human recombinant deoxyribonuclease.
Fibrinolytic enzymes, particularly streptokinase, are now widely used to treat empyema thoracis. Recent in vitro evidence suggests that streptokinase has no effect on pus viscosity but that deoxyribonuclease (DNase) reduces the viscosity of pus. We report the first use of human recombinant DNase given intrapleurally to treat an empyema which had not resolved after standard treatment with streptokinase.
Simpson
G
G
Department of Thoracic Medicine, Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. marjo@iig.com.au
Roomes
D
D
Reeves
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C085693:DNASE1 protein, human; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D013300:Streptokinase