HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (8) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Forster, A. Articles by Wells, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Forster, A. Articles by Wells, P.

Tissue Plasminogen Activator for the Treatment of Deep Venous Thrombosis of the Lower Extremity^*

A Systematic Review

^* From the Divisions of General Internal Medicine (Dr. Forster) and Hematology (Dr. Wells), Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, University of Ottawa, and the Loeb Research Institute, Clinical Epidemiology Unit (Dr. Wells), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Correspondence to: P. Wells, MD, Division of Hematology, 737 Parkdale Ave, Suite 452, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 1J8, Canada; e-mail: pwells{at}ottawahospital.on.ca

Objective: To assess, by systematic review, the efficacy and safety of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in the treatment of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A secondary objective is to assess the optimal dose and route of administration of rt-PA.

Methods: Included studies were randomized, controlled trials comparing rt-PA plus unfractionated heparin (UFH) to UFH alone, rt-PA at different doses, or rt-PA by different routes of administration in the treatment of DVT. Outcomes had to be described in terms of percent change in venographic patency for efficacy (>50% lysis) and in sufficient detail for complications (major and minor hemorrhages and other). The search strategy included searching electronic databases and contacting pharmaceutical agencies and content experts. Study quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. A threshold quality score was used to exclude trials.

Results: Five studies met the following inclusion criteria: three comparing rt-PA plus UFH vs UFH alone (180 patients); one comparing high-dose vs low-dose rt-PA (32 patients); and one comparing systemic vs local administration of rt-PA (151 patients). In studies comparing rt-PA vs placebo, patients assigned to rt-PA were more likely to have > 50% lysis and complications (summary odds ratios [OR], 11.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.61 to 52.5; and OR, 9.95; 95% CI, 2.21 to 44.7, respectively). Major and intracerebral hemorrhages were not significantly increased. One study comparing different doses demonstrated that high-dose and low-dose rt-PA were equally efficacious (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.05 to 14.78). Local rt-PA was neither more efficacious nor riskier than systemic rt-PA.

Conclusion: This systematic review does not support routine use of rt-PA for DVT.

Key Words: systematic review • tissue plasminogen activator • venous thromboembolism

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Scarvelis and P. S. Wells Diagnosis and treatment of deep-vein thrombosis. Can. Med. Assoc. J., October 24, 2006; 175(9): 1087 - 1092. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Augustinos and K. Ouriel Invasive Approaches to Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Circulation, August 31, 2004; 110(9_suppl_1): I-27 - I-34. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]