Long-Term Antiarrhythmic Effects of Thrombolytic Therapy in Pulmonary Embolism.
BACKGROUND
The role of thrombolytic therapy in acute pulmonary embolism patients is still controversial considering the occurrence of arrhythmias. Short-term effects of thrombolytics are well-known whereas long-term effects on cardiac electrophysiology have not been reported before. The objective of our study was to assess the arrhythmic differences in pulmonary embolism patients who received thrombolytics followed by anticoagulation or anticoagulation alone.


METHODS
Sixty patients who received thrombolytic therapy followed by anticoagulation (group 1) and 60 patients who received anticoagulation alone (group 2) were included in this retrospective, single-centre observational study. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory electrocardiography was performed 31 ± 9 months after pulmonary embolism hospitalisation in order to compare arrhythmias originating from both ventricles and atria.


RESULTS
The age and gender distribution of the patients were statistically similar. Ventricular arrhythmias were found to be the same between t-PA and non t-PA groups. All types of atrial arrhythmias were found to be increased in non t-PA group even though left and right atrial volume indexes were statistically identical between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In long-term pulmonary embolism, follow-up thrombolytic therapy was demonstrated to have atrial antiarrhythmic effects.
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital. Electronic address: mertilkerh@yahoo.com.
Mert İlker
Mİ
Hayıroğlu
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Muhammed
M
Keskin
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Ahmet Okan
AO
Uzun
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Ahmet İlker
Aİ
Tekkeşin
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Şahin
Ş
Avşar
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Ahmet
A
Öz
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Özlem
Ö
Yıldırımtürk
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Barış
B
Güngör
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Göksel
G
Çinier
Department of Cardiology, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital.
Ahmet Taha
AT
Alper
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
Ambulatory electrocardiography; Anticoagulation; Arrhythmia; Pulmonary embolism; Thrombolytic