Use of tissue plasminogen activator to treat intracardiac thrombosis in extremely low-birth-weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
Intracardiac thrombosis is a life-threatening complication of extreme prematurity. We describe the use of tissue plasminogen activator to treat intracardiac thrombosis in extremely low-birth-weight preterm infants.


METHODS
Case series, literature review, and practice guideline for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator treatment of intracardiac thrombosis in extremely low-birth-weight preterm infants.


METHODS
Neonatal intensive care.


METHODS
Four extremely low-birth-weight preterm infants coincidentally diagnosed with intracardiac thrombosis during neonatal intensive care.


METHODS
Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in a starting dose of 20 μg/kg/hr, increasing to 200-400 μg/kg/hr, infused for 2-6 days.


RESULTS
Thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator helped achieve rapid clot resolution in all infants and none had any major hemorrhagic complication associated with treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Tissue plasminogen activator may safely be used to treat intracardiac thrombosis in extremely low-birth-weight preterm infants. Close monitoring of therapy is imperative. Further data are required to confirm the safety of tissue plasminogen activator in preterm infants.
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
Jayanti
J
Bose
Paul
P
Clarke
D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator