title: Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in acute lower limb ischaemia.
abstract: For various reasons some patients are unable to undergo intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute limb ischaemia. This interventional case series study prospectively evaluated the effect of thrombolytic treatment with 100 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), administered intravenously, in patients with acute thrombosis of the lower limb arteries and onset of symptoms within 12 h prior to treatment. During a 3-year period (2007-2009), 18 of 86 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in the study (age range 65-80 years; 11 women). Complete and partial thrombolysis was observed in eight (44.4%) and six (33.3%) patients, respectively. All patients experienced clinical improvement. There were no amputations during the 36-month follow-up period and no haemorrhagic complications in the first 30 days post-treatment. Five patients died (27.8%) during follow-up from unrelated causes. This small study demonstrated that thrombolytic treatment with intravenous rt-PA in selected patients with acute limb ischaemia is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Clinical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. vojko.flis@guest.arnes.si
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobilica
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergauer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mrdža
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milotič
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Štirn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator