Bolus tenecteplase for right ventricle dysfunction in hemodynamically stable patients with pulmonary embolism

• Published in: Thrombosis research 2010-03, Vol.125 (3), p.e82-e86
• Main Authors: Becattini, Cecilia, Agnelli, Giancarlo, Salvi, Aldo, Grifoni, Stefano, Pancaldi, Leonardo Goffredo, Enea, Iolanda, Balsemin, Franco, Campanini, Mauro, Ghirarduzzi, Angelo, Casazza, Franco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Dosage Forms; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Echocardiography; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents - administration & dosage; Fibrinolytic Agents - therapeutic use; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Hemorrhage - complications; Heparin - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Pulmonary embolism; Pulmonary Embolism - complications; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary hypertension; Tenecteplase; Thrombolysis; Tissue Plasminogen Activator - administration & dosage; Tissue Plasminogen Activator - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Venous thromboembolism; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2009.09.017

Abstract Introduction The clinical benefit of thrombolytic treatment over heparin in patients with pulmonary embolism without hemodynamic compromise remains controversial. In these patients bolus tenecteplase has the potential to provide an effective and safe thrombolysis. Methods We evaluated the effect of tenecteplase on right ventricle dysfunction (RVD) assessed by echocardiography in hemodynamically stable patients with PE in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. RVD was defined as right/left ventricle end-diastolic dimension ratio > 1 in the apical 4-chamber view. Patients were randomized to receive weight-adjusted single-bolus tenecteplase or placebo. All patients received unfractionated heparin. Reduction of RVD at 24 hours was the primary efficacy end-point and was evaluated by an independent committee unaware of treatment allocation. Results Overall, 58 patients were randomized. Echocardiograms were adequate for efficacy analysis in 51 patients, 23 randomized to tenecteplase and 28 to placebo. The reduction of right to left ventricle end-diastolic dimension ratio at 24 hours was 0.31 ± 0.08 in patients randomized to tenecteplase as compared to 0.10 ± 0.07 in patients randomized to placebo (p = 0.04). One patient randomized to tenecteplase suffered a clinical event (recurrent pulmonary embolism) in comparison to three patients randomized to placebo (1 recurrent pulmonary embolism; 1 clinical deterioration and 1 non pulmonary embolism-related death). Two non fatal major bleedings occurred with tenecteplase (1 intracranial) and one with placebo. Conclusion In hemodynamically stable patients with PE, treatment with single bolus tenecteplase is feasible at the same dosages used for acute myocardial infarction and is associated with reduction of RVD at 24 hours. Whether this benefit is associated with an improved clinical outcome without excessive bleeding is currently explored in a large clinical trial.