Abstract
This article analyzes the early experience with alteplase (rt-PA) and reteplase (r-PA) to identify noteworthy differences in bleeding and to determine correlations with dosage, concomitant anticoagulation, and duration of infusion. A retrospective review of the medical records was unavailable for the initial 82 patients who were treated with either rt-PA (44) or r-PA (38) for peripheral arterial or venous occlusions after urokinase therapy. Successful recanalization was achieved in 31/44 (70%) of the patients treated with rt-PA and in 34/38 (89%) of the patients treated with r-PA. Significant bleeding was documented in 20/44 (45%) of the rt-PA-treated patients (including 14 transfusions) versus 3/38 (8%) of the r-PA-treated patients (3 transfusions). Concomitant anticoagulation with either preceding warfarin (international normalized ratio > 1.1) or a bolus of heparin at the outset of the infusion was associated with significant bleeding in 13/17 (76%) of the rt-PA-treated patients (including 9 transfusions) versus 0/17 in the r-PA-treated patients. No significant correlation between either mean dose or total dose and bleeding was shown for either drug. Early experience indicates that r-PA is at least as effective as rt-PA for the thrombolysis of peripheral arterial and venous occlusions. It also appears that r-PA is less likely than rt-PA to be associated with significant bleeding during such infusions, especially if the patient is concomitantly anticoagulated.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 92-98 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Techniques in Vascular and Interventional Radiology |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging