Rapid haemodynamic improvement following saruplase in recent massive pulmonary embolism

In a single centre pilot study, saruplase (20 mg bolus plus 60 mg infusion over 1 h) was administered to twenty patients with an angiographically documented recent massive pulmonary embolism: Miller index of at least 20 and mean pulmonary artery pressure of at least 20 mmHg. The lytic ability of saruplase to cause normalization of haemodynamic parameters over the first 12 h and reperfusion of pulmonary arteries at 24 h was assessed. A decrease of 25 +/- 10% in total pulmonary resistance was evident at 30 min. Haemodynamic parameters continued to improve with total pulmonary resistance decreasing by 29 +/- 8% and 40 +/- 11% at 1 and 12 h respectively. Relative improvement in Miller index 24 +/- 6 h after saruplase treatment was 38 +/- 9%. Two patients suffered recurrent pulmonary embolism, two severe bleeding events were observed. One patient died following a haemorrhagic stroke.