Thrombolysis compared with heparin for the initial treatment of pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Randomized trials and meta-analyses have reached conflicting conclusions about the role of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism.


RESULTS
We performed a meta-analysis of all randomized trials comparing thrombolytic therapy with heparin in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Eleven trials, involving 748 patients, were included. Compared with heparin, thrombolytic therapy was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in recurrent pulmonary embolism or death (6.7% versus 9.6%; OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.12, P for heterogeneity=0.48), a nonsignificant increase in major bleeding (9.1% versus 6.1%; OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.46), and a significant increase in nonmajor bleeding (22.7% versus 10.0%; OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.53 to 4.54; number needed to harm=8). Thrombolytic therapy compared with heparin was associated with a significant reduction in recurrent pulmonary embolism or death in trials that also enrolled patients with major (hemodynamically unstable) pulmonary embolism (9.4% versus 19.0%; OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.92; number needed to treat=10) but not in trials that excluded these patients (5.3% versus 4.8%; OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.30), with significant heterogeneity between these 2 groups of trials (P=0.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Currently available data provide no evidence for a benefit of thrombolytic therapy compared with heparin for the initial treatment of unselected patients with acute pulmonary embolism. A benefit is suggested in those at highest risk of recurrence or death. The number of patients enrolled in randomized trials to date is modest, and further evaluation of the efficacy and safety of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of high-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism appears warranted.
Wan
Susan
S
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, West Australia.
Quinlan
Daniel J
DJ
Agnelli
Giancarlo
G
Eikelboom
John W
JW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D012107:Research Design; D012306:Risk; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin