Low Dose Rt-PA for Acute Normotensive Pulmonary Embolism With RVD

In acute pulmonary embolism (PE), normotensive patients with acute RV dysfunction on echocardiography or computed tomography and with myocardial troponin elevation may have an adverse outcome. Thrombolysis rapidly reverses RV pressure overload in PE, but it increases the possibility of bleeding and it remains unclear whether it may improve the early or long-term clinical outcome of these selected normotensive patients.

In our previous study, we found that low dose (50mg/2h) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) regimen had less bleeding tendency than the 100mg/2h regimen (3% vs.10%), it is worthwhile to reveal whether low dose rt-PA plus Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) can rapidly reverses RV pressure overload in PE, but not increase bleeding and other adverse events.

In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, control study, we compare low dose rt-PA plus LMWH vs. LMWH alone in acute normotensive pulmonary embolism patients with RV dysfunction. The primary efficacy outcome is the composite of death from any cause or treatment failure, improvements of right ventricular functions on echocardiogram and pulmonary artery obstruction on CT angiographs within 7 days of randomization. Second efficacy outcome is the recurrence of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. Safety outcomes include serious life threatening bleeding such as cerebral hemorrhage and other major bleeding episodes, also include mild bleeding. In addition, 90-day clinical and echocardiographic follow-up will be performed, the recurrence of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis will be recorded. The study is expected to enroll approximately 460 patients.

By determining the benefits vs risks of Low dose rt-PA plus LMWH compared with LMWH alone for the treatment in submassive or intermediate-risk PE, this trial is expected to reveal the worth of Low dose rt-PA plus LMWH treatment and what kind of PE patients are suitable for thrombolysis.