Thrombolytic Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Toward the End of a Long-Lasting Debate?

2006 ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Stavros Konstantinides
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 348-366
Author(s):  
G. G. Taradin ◽  
G. A. Ignatenko ◽  
N. T. Vatutin ◽  
I. V. Kanisheva

The presented review concerns contemporary views on specific aspects of anticoagulant and thrombolytic treatment of venous thromboembolism and mostly of acute pulmonary embolism. Modern classifications of patients with acute pulmonary embolism, based on early mortality risk and severity of thromboembolic event, are reproduced. The importance of multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with pulmonary embolism with the assistance of cardiologist, intensive care specialist, pulmonologist, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, aimed at the management of pulmonary embolism at all stages: from clinical suspicion to the selection and performing of any medical intervention, is emphasized. Anticoagulant treatment with the demonstration of results of major trials, devoted to efficacy and safety evaluation of anticoagulants, is highlighted in details. Moreover, characteristics, basic dosage and dosage scheme of direct (new) oral anticoagulants, including apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban and betrixaban are described in the article. In particular, the management of patients with bleeding complications of anticoagulant treatment and its application in cancer patients, who often have venous thromboembolism, is described. Additionally, modern approaches to systemic thrombolysis with intravenous streptokinase, urokinase and tissue plasminogen activators are presented in this review. The indications, contraindications, results of clinical trials devoted to various regimens of thrombolytic therapy, including treatment of pulmonary embolism by lower doses of fibrinolytic agents, are described.


Author(s):  
Karsten Keller ◽  
Lukas Hobohm ◽  
Matthias Ebner ◽  
Karl-Patrik Kresoja ◽  
Thomas Münzel ◽  
...  

VASA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 450-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Flores ◽  
Ángel García-Avello ◽  
Esther Alonso ◽  
Antonio Ruíz ◽  
Olga Navarrete ◽  
...  

Background: We evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared it with an ELISA D-dimer (VIDAS D-dimer) in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Patients and methods: We studied 127 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected PE. The diagnosis of PE was based on a clinical probability pretest for PE and a strict protocol of imaging studies. A plasma sample to measure the levels of tPA and D-dimer was obtained at enrollment. Diagnostic accuracy for tPA and D-dimer was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and the diagnostic utility of tPA with a cutoff of 8.5 ng/mL and D-dimer with a cutoff of 500 ng/mL, were calculated for PE diagnosis. Results: PE was confirmed in 41 patients (32 %). Areas under ROC curves were 0.86 for D-dimer and 0.71 for tPA. The sensitivity/negative predictive value for D-dimer using a cutoff of 500 ng/mL, and tPA using a cutoff of 8.5 ng/mL, were 95 % (95 % CI, 88–100 %)/95 % (95 % CI, 88–100 %) and 95 % (95 % CI, 88–100 %)/94 %), respectively. The diagnostic utility to exclude PE was 28.3 % (95 % CI, 21–37 %) for D-dimer and 24.4 % (95 % CI, 17–33 %) for tPA. Conclusions: The tPA with a cutoff of 8.5 ng/mL has a high sensitivity and negative predictive value for exclusion of PE, similar to those observed for the VIDAS D-dimer with a cutoff of 500 ng/mL, although the diagnostic utility was slightly higher for the D-dimer.


VASA ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielli ◽  
Rosati ◽  
Vitale ◽  
Millarelli ◽  
Siani ◽  
...  

Venous aneurysms are uncommon but they can have devastating consequences, including pulmonary embolism, other thromboembolic events and death. We report six cases of venous aneurysm of the extremities, in which the first sign of presence was acute pulmonary embolism. Surgical resection is recommended whenever possible. Our experience suggests that prophylactic surgery is cautiously recommended for low-risk patients with venous aneurysms of the abdomen and strongly recommended for extremity deep and superficial venous aneurysms for their potential risk of developing thromboembolic complications despite adequate anticoagulation. Other venous aneurysms should be excised only if they are symptomatic or enlarging.


VASA ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Li ◽  
Lei Feng ◽  
Jiangbo Li ◽  
Jian Tang

Abstract. Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted that included studies from January 2000 to August 2015 using the electronic databases PubMed, Embase and Springer link. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios (PLR), negative likelihood ratios (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) as well as the 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRA for acute PE. Meta-disc software version 1.4 was used to analyze the data. Results: Five studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity (86 %, 95 % CI: 81 % to 90 %) and specificity (99 %, 95 % CI: 98 % to 100 %) demonstrated that MRA diagnosis had limited sensitivity and high specificity in the detection of acute PE. The pooled estimate of PLR (41.64, 95 % CI: 17.97 to 96.48) and NLR (0.17, 95 % CI: 0.11 to 0.27) provided evidence for the low missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis rates of MRA for acute PE. The high diagnostic accuracy of MRA for acute PE was demonstrated by the overall DOR (456.51, 95 % CI: 178.38 - 1168.31) and SROC curves (AUC = 0.9902 ± 0.0061). Conclusions: MRA can be used for the diagnosis of acute PE. However, due to limited sensitivity, MRA cannot be used as a stand-alone test to exclude acute PE.


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