Fibrinolytic therapy for mechanical pulmonary valve thrombosis

Fast versus ultra-slow thrombolytic infusion regimens in patients with obstructive mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis: a pilot randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Thrombolysis is an alternative to surgery for mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis (MPVT). Randomized clinical trials have yet to test safety and efficacy of a proposed ultraslow thrombolytic infusion regimen.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This single-center, open-label, pilot randomized clinical trial randomized adult patients with acute obstructive MPVT to an ultraslow thrombolytic regimen (25 mg of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator [rtPA] infused in 25h) and a fast thrombolytic regimen (50 mg of rtPA infused in 6h). If thrombolysis failed, a repeated dose of 25 mg of rtPA for 6h was administered in both groups up to a cumulative dose of 150 mg or the occurrence of a complication. Primary outcome was a complete MPVT resolution (>75% fall in the obstructive gradient by transthoracic echocardiography, <10° limitation in opening and closing valve motion angles by fluoroscopy, and symptom improvement). Key safety outcome was a BARC type III or V major bleeding. Overall, 120 patients, including 63 (52.5%) women, at a mean age of 36.3±15.3 years, were randomized. Complete thrombolysis success was achieved in 51 patients (85.0%) in the ultraslow-regimen group and 47 patients (78.3%) in the fast-regimen group (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.25 to 1.63; P = 0.34). One case of transient ischemic attack and 3 cases of intracranial hemorrhage (absolute risk difference, -12.5%; 95% CI, -23.1% to -1.0%; P = 0.04). were observed only in the fast-regimen group.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultraslow thrombolytic regimen conferred a high thrombosis resolution rate without major complications. Such findings should be replicated in more adequately powered trials (IRCT20181022041406N2).

Thrombosis Prevention and Anticoagulation Management in the Pediatric Patient with Congenital Heart Disease

Thrombosis is one of the most frequent complications affecting children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Palliative and reparative cardiac surgeries are some of the main players contributing to the thrombosis risk in this patient population. Additional risk factors related to the CHD itself (e.g., cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and polycythemia in cyanotic cardiac disorders) can contribute to thrombogenicity alone or combined with other factors. Thrombotic complications have been recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Here, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology and risk factors for thrombosis as well as the indications for and use of different anticoagulation, antiplatelet, and thrombolytic agents. In addition, we describe some of most common thrombotic complications and their management in the pediatric CHD population.

Successful treatment of prosthetic pulmonary valve thrombosis with reteplase: a case report

Pulmonary prosthetic valve thrombosis is a serious and rare complication with high mortality. Using reteplase for treatment of prosthesis thrombosis is rarely reported. We report the first case in Iran of a thrombosed pulmonary valve in a patient who had undergone repair of tetralogy of Fallot, which was successfully treated twice with intravenous thrombolytic therapy with reteplase.