[Fibrinolysis therapy in massive lung embolism. Experiences in 10 patients 1982-1984]

Between October 1982 and July 1984 systemic thrombolysis was carried out in 10 patients (5 males and 5 females aged 19 to 66 years) with massive pulmonary embolism (PE). Mean thrombolytic treatment duration was 77 hours. The main fibrinolytic agent used (9 cases) was streptokinase. Sequential treatment with streptokinase and urokinase was given to 2 patients and urokinase alone to one. 5 patients received porcine plasmin additionally, and one patient BRL 26921 (streptokinase-plasminogen complex) and human plasminogen. Pulmonary arterial pressures were recorded serially. Pulmonary angiograms were obtained before, occasionally during and after thrombolysis. Pulmonary arterial pressures (systolic: p less than 0.01, diastolic: p less than 0.05, mean: p less than 0.01, paired t-test, two tailed) and pulmonary angiograms (p less than 0.001, paired t-test, two tailed) all showed significant improvement. Thrombolytic treatment had to be discontinued in two patients due to side effects. Patients with the most recent PE showed the best response. Patients with recurrent PE and preexisting pulmonary hypertension showed no improvement. In PE without deep vein thrombosis (DVT), treatment duration of up to three days seems to be appropriate. In PE with concomitant DVT the treatment should be prolonged to achieve complete lysis of thrombi.