Recombinant streptokinase (r-SK) is an effective thrombolytic agent developed with gene engineering. Its characteristics of high output and low production cost make it affordable in treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in developing countries. It is unclear whether r-SK can be used in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of 1.5 million IU r-SK by 2 hours infusion and 20,000 IU/kg urokinase (UK) by 2 hours infusion in selected PE patients.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cardiovascular illness. Massive PE is characterized with cardiogenic shock and/or persistent arterial hypotension. Submassive PE patients are defined with right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) identified by echocardiography or CT and the etc. The mortality of massive and submassive PE is higher than low-risk PE. PE has the mortality rate of \>15% in the first 3 months after diagnosis. Thrombolytic treatment should be commenced as soon as possible after high-risk PE was diagnosed. Thrombolysis has been proved to be the most rapid and effective therapy to reduce the obstruction of pulmonary circulation and normalize hemodynamic parameters. The ultimate goals of thrombolytic therapy for this disease are to minimize early morbidity and mortality and to prevent recurrence without provoking excessive bleeding. Currently, the choice of thrombolytic agents and regimens (SK, UK or rt-PA) is mostly based on personal or regional preferences. A novel dosing regimen of UK (3 million IU/2h, or 4400 IU/kg as a loading dose followed by 4400 IU/kg/h over 12h) and SK (1.5 million IU /2h) have been recommended in ESC guidelines. Considering lower body weight in Chinese population, a relative lower dosage UK-2h (20,000 IU/kg) regimen combined with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been used in Chinese population. Our previous study has revealed that the efficacy and safety of UK-2h (20 000 IU/Kg) were similar with UK-12h (standard regimen) in Chinese patients. Thus the UK-2h (20,000 IU/Kg) became a popular and alternative choice in treating PE in China for its lower cost and convenience. Natural streptokinase (n-SK or SK) is an old thrombolytic agent. However, its immunogenicity lowers its safety and that constitute a concern among doctors. In recent years, as the development of gene engineering, r-SK was produced. R-SK has the advantage of not containing streptolysin and streptodornase unlike streptococci-derived n-SK which might make it safer theoretically. For its low cost, r-SK has been used to treat AMI especially in developing countries. In this study, the efficacy and safety between r-SK (1.5 million IU/2h) and UK-2h (20 000U/Kg) for treating acute PE will be compared. The study is conducted in patients with massive PE and submassive PE. The clinical efficacy, emboli dissolving efficacy and safety will be evaluated.
Recombinant streptokinase: 1.5 million IU continuously intravenous infusion for 2 hours
Urokinase: 20,000 IU/kg continuously intravenous infusion for 2 hours
Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
Guangdong Institute of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University,
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Shenzhen People's Hospital
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
The improvement of the right ventricular function on echocardiogram
Time frame: within the 1st, 14 days and 3 months
Quantitative computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) score
Time frame: 1st, 14 days and 3 months
The relief of symptoms
Time frame: 2-4h, 1st, 4th , 7th, 10th, 14 days day and 3 months
Major or minor bleeding
Time frame: 14 days and 3 months
Pulmonary embolism recurrence
Time frame: 14 days and 3 months
Death
Time frame: 14 days and 3 months
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Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
83
The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command
Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University
Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
The Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University
Qingdao, Shandong, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University
Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China