急性左心衰竭和充血性心力衰竭患者肝功能检测指标差异的临床观察

目的探讨急性左心衰竭(ALHF)和充血性心力衰竭(CHF)患者肝功能检测指标(LFTs)的差异。方法入选纽约心功能分级Ⅲ～Ⅳ级的心力衰竭患者137例,根据病情分为ALHF组59例和CHF组78例。收集患者的基本资料,比较两组LFTs和住院病死率的差异。结果与CHF组比较,ALHF组患者的谷丙转氨酶[(34.05±14.48)U/L比(29.41±9.16)U/L]、谷草转氨酶[(30.73±12.47)U/L比(26.64±6.81)U/L]和白蛋白[(38.62±2.70)g/L比(35.33±4.20)g/L]水平均显著升高(分别为t=-2.291,P=0.024;t=-2.454,P=0.015;t=-5.25,P<0.01),而谷氨酰氨基转移酶[(30.7±20.7)U/L比(41.5±32.3)U/L]、总胆红素[(14.22±7.21)μmol/L比(18.42±8.60)μmol/L]、直接胆红素[(6.28±3.46)μmol/L比(8.00±4.67)μmol/L]和间接胆红素[(7.99±4.82)μmol/L比(10.45±5.81)μmol/L]水平均降低(t=2.257,P=0.026;t=3.013,P=0.003;t=2.384,P=0.019;t=2.636,P=0.009)。两组患者的碱性磷酸酶[(75.93±29.01)U/L比(80.42±22.91)U/L]和总蛋白[(65.2±3.8)g/L比(65.9±7.8)g/L]水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。ALHF组患者病死率较CHF组高[17例(28.8%)比8例(10.3%),χ2=7.754,P=0.005]。结论 ALHF患者以谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶升高为主,与肝脏缺血相关,而CHF患者以谷氨酰氨基转移酶、总胆红素、直接胆红素、间接胆红素升高和白蛋白降低为主,与肝脏淤血相关。     

阿托伐他汀在1-磷酸鞘氨醇诱导心肌细胞肥大中的作用

目的研究阿托伐他汀对1-磷酸鞘氨醇(S1P)诱导乳鼠心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用。方法原代培养乳鼠心肌细胞,测定心肌细胞体积和[3H]-亮氨酸掺入量作为心肌细胞肥大的指标。乳鼠心肌细胞使用不同浓度的阿托伐他汀(atorvastatin),加入S1P,[3H]-亮氨酸掺入量作为心肌细胞蛋白摄取量;分别用qPCR和Western blot法检测心肌细胞的β-肌球蛋白(β-MHC)的mRNA和蛋白质表达水平;用qPCR检测心肌细胞的心房利钠肽(ANF)的mRNA表达水平。结果与S1P组比较,阿托伐他汀10μmol/L处理组[3H]-亮氨酸掺入率减少[(234.89%±31.23%)比(342.23%±31.60%),P=0.205],β-MHC的mRNA和蛋白表达水平下降[(0.59±0.14)比(0.84±0.20),P=0.318]和[(0.55±0.09)比(0.98±0.15),P=0.223],ANF的mRNA表达水平降低[(0.51±0.13)比(0.76±0.19),P=0.445];与S1P组比较,阿托伐他汀20μmol/L处理组[3H]-亮氨酸掺入率明显减少[(189.07%±17.69%)比(342.23%±31.60%),P<0.01],β-MHC的mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下降[(0.50±0.12)比(0.84±0.20),P<0.01]和[(0.35±0.08)比(0.98±0.15),P<0.01],ANF的mRNA水平明显降低[(0.47±0.12)比(0.76±0.19),P<0.01]。结论阿托伐他汀可抑制S1P诱导的心肌细胞肥大,并可减少S1P诱导的β-MHC和ANF表达。     

溶栓及抗凝治疗次大面积肺栓塞的疗效观察

目的 观察溶栓及抗凝治疗次大面积肺栓塞患者的疗效.方法 56例次大面积肺栓塞患者入院时随机分为溶栓组及抗凝组,溶栓组给予重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt-PA)溶栓后序贯抗凝治疗(低分子肝素及华法林),抗凝组单纯给予抗凝治疗,并观察总有效率及出血发生率.结果 溶栓组总有效率为96.4％,高于抗凝组(65.4％,P＜0.05).两组均无颅内出血及其他部位严重出血病例,出血发生率无显著性差别(P＞0.05).结论 对次大面积肺栓塞患者,在无溶栓禁忌证的情况下,首选rt-PA溶栓治疗,可迅速改善肺栓塞所致右室功能不全症状,提高治疗有效率.     

中高危急性肺血栓栓塞症患者溶栓联合抗凝与单纯抗凝治疗的近期疗效比较

目的:回顾性评价单纯抗凝治疗与溶栓联合抗凝治疗,对中高危急性肺血栓栓塞症(肺栓塞)患者的近期疗效。方法:以治愈、显效、进步、无效、恶化和死亡6级判断标准进行疗效评价,以治愈+显效+进步为有效,计算有效率,以恶化+死亡计算严重事件发生率,对比分析溶栓联合抗凝治疗与单纯抗凝治疗中,高危急性肺栓塞患者住院期间的疗效和出血发生率。结果:北京潞河医院呼吸与危重症医学科,2013年1月至2015年12月共收治175例肺栓塞患者,其中68例为中高危肺栓塞患者,溶栓联合抗凝治疗组(溶栓组)32例,男性14例,女性18例,年龄(61.7±10.6)岁,单纯抗凝治疗组(抗凝组)36例,男性14例,女性22例,年龄(65.1±11.8)岁。治疗后,溶栓组有效率为90.6%(29/32),明显高于抗凝组的63.8%(P=0.013)。两组均无死亡病例,两组间的严重事件发生率相似(0 vs.2.7%,P=0.252)。1例抗凝组患者出现脑出血,未出现中度出血并发症,轻微出血并发症在两组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05),两组患者住院时间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。抗凝治疗时给予华法林6mg的负荷量患者较无负荷量的患者住院时间明显缩短(P0.05)。结论:对于中高危急性肺栓塞患者,选择溶栓治疗近期可更好地改善右心功能障碍而不增加出血风险。华法林初始抗凝时给予负荷量可缩短住院时间。     

冠状动脉支架术后三联抗血小板药物治疗对血小板功能的影响

目的探讨三联抗血小板药物治疗对冠状动脉(冠脉)支架术后患者血小板活化和聚集功能的影响。方法120例冠心病行冠脉支架植入术患者,随机分为三联组(阿司匹林、氯吡格雷和西洛他唑)和两联组(阿司匹林和氯吡格雷),三联组于术后第1天起加服西洛他唑。两组分别于术后第1天服用西洛他唑前及第5天测定血小板活化复合物(PAC-1)和CD_(62)p,同时测定5μmol/L及20μmol/L ADP诱导的血小板最大聚集率(MPAR)。结果两组临床基线资料及CD_(62)p、PAC-1和MPAR基线值差异均无统计学意义。分别计算各指标第二次测定值与基线值的差值,两组ΔMPAR差异无统计学意义,但三联组和两联组ΔCD_(62)p和ΔPAC-1分别为[(5.12±11.25)%比(1.08±4.97)%,P＜0.05]和[(12.12±12.30)%比(2.22±15.15)%,P＜0.01]。对急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者亚组分析结果表明三联组ΔMPAR(5μmol/L)[(8.68±10.35)％比(2.92±13.06)%,P=0.018]、ΔMPAR(20μmol/L)[(11.05±11.14)%比(5.16±13.27)%,P=0.019]、ΔCD_(62)p[(5.57±12.08)％比(1.35±4.42)%,P=0.028】和ΔPAC-1[(11.62±12.73)%比(1.29±15.73)%,P= 0.001]均显著高于两联组。3个月临床随访显示三联组与两联组主要不良心、脑血管事件发生率分别为0和3.3%(2/60),出血发生率分别为5%(3/60)和3.3%(2/60),均无统计学意义。结论三联抗血小板药物治疗与常规两联治疗相比能更有效地抑制冠脉支架术后血小板活化和聚集,但其疗效和安全性还需大规模临床试验证实。     

牙线牵引辅助内镜黏膜下剥离术治疗胃角黏膜病变的疗效（含视频）

目的 探讨牙线牵引辅助内镜黏膜下剥离术（endoscopic submucosal dissection, ESD）治疗胃角黏膜病变的疗效。方法 回顾性分析2015年1月—2018年12月厦门大学附属第一医院内镜中心收治的127例胃角黏膜病变患者病例资料。根据术中手术方法,将患者分为牙线牵引辅助ESD组（牵引组,n=51）和传统ESD组（传统组,n=76）,同时把41例胃角纤维化病例也分为牵引组(n=23)和传统组(n=18)。对比分析手术时间、整块切除率、治愈性切除率及出血、肌层损伤、穿孔等不良事件发生率等指标。结果 牵引组与传统组病例年龄、性别、病变大小及病变形态差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。牵引组手术时间较传统组明显缩短[（65.4±36.5） min比(103.5±43.2) min,P=0.012],病变整块切除率[100.00%(51/51)比90.79%(69/76),P=0.026]及治愈性切除率均更高[94.12%(48/51)比81.58%(62/76),P=0.042],且剥离过程中肌层损伤[5.88%(3/51)比25.00%（19/76）,P=0.010]及术中出血更少[47.06%（24/51）比82.89%（63/76）,P=0.010]。传统组2例(2.63%)纤维化病例穿孔,牵引组无穿孔病例,穿孔发生率差异无统计学意义（P=0.243）。在胃角纤维化病例中,牵引组手术时间较传统组明显缩短[（81.4±29.3） min比(119.3±37.6） min,P=0.010],病变整块切除率[100.00%（23/23）比72.22%(13/18）,P=0.007]及治愈性切除率均更高[95.65%(22/23)比72.22%(13/18),P=0.035],且剥离过程中肌层损伤[8.70%(2/23)比72.22%(13/18）,P=0.001]及术中出血更少[78.26%(18/23)比100.00%(18/18),P=0.035]。结论 牙线牵引辅助ESD治疗胃角黏膜病变及有纤维化的胃角病变安全有效,与传统ESD相比,手术时间更短,治愈率更高,不良事件发生率更低。     

超声多普勒心动图在判断静脉内溶栓治疗急性肺栓塞疗效中的价值

目的探讨超声多普勒心动图(UCG)在判断静脉内溶栓治疗急性肺栓塞(APE)疗效中的价值.方法对12例APE患者静脉内给予重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt-PA)100mg溶栓治疗,溶栓前、后行同位素肺通气/灌注扫描和UCG检查,观察UCG指标的变化,并与同位素肺通气/灌注扫描结果对照.结果本组12例APE患者,溶栓前240个肺段中灌注缺损126段(52.5%),每例平均(10.5±2.9)个肺段.UCG也均显示右心房、室扩大伴有右室壁运动降低,左心房、室缩小并有室间隔向左侧偏移,三尖瓣中至大量返流伴肺动脉高压[(85.4±23.2)mmHg(1mmHg=0.133kPa)]和主肺动脉增宽等APE的特征性改变.溶栓后(29.2±4.0)h同位紊扫描有60个栓塞肺段再灌注(47.6%),平均(5.0±2.2)段;同时[溶后(28.5±4.7)h]UCG也显示右心房、室均显著缩小[(-2.7±1.8)mm和(-3.6±2.6)mm,P均＜0.05]并有右室壁运动的改善,左心房、室均显著增加[(+1.8±1.2)mm和(+4.8±3.7)mm,P均＜0.05]伴室间隔移位改善,肺动脉收缩压显著降低[(-15.2±5.4)mmHg,P＜0.05]伴有三尖瓣返流量的减少及主肺动脉显著回缩[(-1.5±1.4)mm,P均＜0.05]等APE再灌注的特征性改变.这些改变在溶栓后(8.2±1.5)hUCG已有明显改变.结论UCG对APE静脉内溶栓早期疗效判断与同位素肺通气/灌注扫描结果相符,对判断临床疗效有实用价值,值得进一步研究.     

血浆可溶性血栓调节蛋白水平与缺血性卒中患者rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的关系

目的]探讨血浆可溶性血栓调节蛋白(sTM)水平对缺血性卒中患者重组组织型纤溶酶原激活物(rt-PA)静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的预测价值。 [方法]收集符合纳入标准的缺血性卒中患者183例作为研究对象,根据rt-PA静脉溶栓后24 h神经功能缺损程度将患者分为神经功能恶化组31例和非神经功能恶化组152例。收集患者年龄、高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)等一般临床资料,血浆sTM水平采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测;rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的缺血性卒中患者血浆sTM与一般资料的相关性采用Pearson法及Spearman法分析;血浆sTM对缺血性卒中患者rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的预测价值采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)分析;采用多因素Logistic回归分析影响缺血性卒中患者rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的因素。 [结果]神经功能恶化组血浆sTM水平[(50.64±12.17)μg/L比(33.76±8.67)μg/L]及年龄[(67.34±10.87)岁比(60.22±11.05)岁]、hs-CRP[(12.59±3.23)mg/L比(4.92±1.13)mg/L]和空腹血糖[(7.31±1.96)mmol/L比(5.86±1.92)mmol/L]水平、糖尿病比例(32.26%比16.45%)显著高于非神经功能恶化组(P＜0.05)。rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的缺血性卒中患者血浆sTM与年龄、hs-CRP、空腹血糖、糖尿病均呈正相关(P＜0.05)。血浆sTM预测缺血性卒中患者rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)为0.852,特异度为81.6%,灵敏度为80.6%。sTM、空腹血糖是缺血性卒中患者rt-PA静脉溶栓后发生早期神经功能恶化的独立影响因素(P＜0.05)。 [结论]血浆sTM水平对缺血性卒中患者rt-PA静脉溶栓后早期神经功能恶化有重要预测价值。     

溶栓与单纯抗凝治疗急性次大面积肺栓塞的疗效及安全性

目的：探讨溶栓与单纯抗凝治疗急性次大面积肺栓塞患者的疗效与安全性。方法：63例急性次大面积肺血栓栓塞症患者,被随机分为溶栓组（n＝32）与单纯抗凝组（n＝31）。观察两组治疗前与治疗2周后动脉血气指标及右心功能指标变化,进行疗效分析。统计两组出血、血小板减少发生情况。结果：治疗后两组动脉血气指标及右心功能指标较治疗前显著改善（P＜0.05或＜0.01）;与单纯抗凝组比较,溶栓组动脉血氧分压[PaO2,（77.8±7.3）mmHg比（83.4±8.7）mmHg]、右室前壁活动度[RVAWM,（4.9±1.7）mm比（5.8±2.2）mm]显著上升,肺泡-动脉血氧分压差[P （A-a）O2,（23.1±2.8）mmHg比（16.5±2.4）mmHg]、肺动脉收缩压[PASP,（54.6±7.9）mmHg比（34.2±7.5）mmHg]显著下降（P＜0.05或＜0.01）。溶栓组总有效率显著高于单纯抗凝组（100％比80.6％,P＝0.002）。两组出血发生率及血小板减少发生率无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。结论：溶栓治疗可显著降低急性次大面积肺栓塞患者的肺动脉压力,改善氧合及右室功能指标,无禁忌患者可考虑优先推荐。     

茶碱治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病的随机双盲平行对照研究

目的观察长期口服小剂量缓释茶碱治疗稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)的疗效和安全性。方法采用随机双盲安慰剂平行对照研究方法,对2002至2003年广东韶关农村地区流行调查中筛选出符合入选标准的110例稳定期 COPD 患者进行简单随机分组,分别予缓释茶碱(每次100 mg,每天2次)和安慰剂口服治疗1年。评估肺功能、慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性发作(AECOPD)情况、生活质量、气促分数、治疗满意度和不良反应等。疗效比较采用优势检验。结果 85例(缓释茶碱组42例,对照组43例)完成1年随访。目标治疗(ITT)人群分析结果显示,缓释茶碱组 AECOPD总次数[(0.8±1.2)次/年]较安慰剂组[(1.7±2.6)次/年]减少(Z=-1.674,P=0.047),AECOPD总时间[(4.6±7.9)d]较安慰剂组[(12.5±22.8)d]减少(Z=-1.699,P=0.045);中度及以上AECOPD 次数[(0.4±1.0)次/年]较安慰剂组[(1.0±1.8)次/年]显著减少(Z=-2.136,P=0.017),扩张前的第一秒用力呼气容积(FEV_1)递减值[(0.006±0.180)L]较安慰剂组[(-0.503±0.169)L]显著减少(t=1.789,P=0.038),疗效总满意度(其中对疗效很满意的患者16例)较安慰剂组(对疗效很满意患者3例)高(Z=-2.198,P=0.014),首次 AECOPD 时间(中位数表示,365 d)较安慰剂组(276 d)延迟(X~2=3.880,P=0.049),但两组支气管扩张试验后的 FEV_1递减值(t=-0.012,P=0.495)和不良反应(P=0.076)比较差异均无统计学意义。符合方案(PP)人群分析结果显示类似的结果,缓释茶碱组的生活质量[(-28±20)分]较安慰剂组[(-20±23)分]显著改善(F=2.893,P=0.047)。结论小剂量缓释茶碱长期治疗稳定期 COPD 安全有效。     

阿替普酶初始溶栓序贯抗凝治疗老年急性次大面积肺栓塞疗效与安全性的meta分析

目的系统评价阿替普酶初始溶栓序贯抗凝治疗老年急性次大面积肺栓塞(ASPE)的疗效与安全性。方法检索中国知网、维普数据、中国生物医学文献数据库、万方数据、Medline、Embase、PubMed、The Cochrane Library、Clinical Trials,收集阿替普酶溶栓序贯抗凝对比单纯抗凝治疗ASPE的随机对照试验。检索时间为建库至2020年2月,2名评价者进行筛选文献、提取资料、质量评价后采用Review Manager 5.3软件进行meta分析。结果最终纳入研究21个,总样本量1 602例。meta分析结果显示,与单纯抗凝相比,溶栓序贯抗凝有更好的治疗效果(OR=5.87,95%CI:3.82~9.01,P<0.000 01),患者肺栓塞复发率(OR=0.36,95%CI:0.16~0.80,P=0.01)和死亡率(OR=0.46,95%CI:0.24~0.86,P=0.02)更低,但会增加出血概率(OR=1.65,95%CI:1.21~2.24,P=0.001),颅内出血发生率2种疗法差异无统计学意义(OR=0.77,95%CI:0.21~2.77,P=0.69)。亚组分析还显示欧美人群接受阿替普酶序贯抗凝治疗后复发率更低(OR=0.34,95%CI:0.14~0.83,P=0.02),亚裔患者差异却无统计学意义,亚欧患者在死亡率、致命性出血率方面差异均无统计学意义。结论阿替普酶初始溶栓序贯抗凝治疗可降低老年ASPE患者死亡率和复发率,尽管溶栓治疗会增加出血风险,但中远期的疗效仍优于抗凝。     

Effectiveness and safety of the thrombolytic therapy for acute pulmonary thromboembolism: results of a multicenter registry in the Japanese Society of Pulmonary Embolism Research

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of thrombolytic treatment for acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE), especially in the hemodynamically stable patients with right ventricular afterload stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a total of 221 patients with APTE, the association between thrombolytic treatment and the clinical outcomes were investigated. Thrombolysis was given to 121 patients (Thrombolytic Group), and the remaining 100 patients were treated with anticoagulation alone (Anticoagulation Group). In both patients with prolonged shock and patients who were hemodynamically stable without right ventricular afterload stress, the rate of death and recurrence of APTE in Anticoagulation Group were similar to those in Thrombolytic Group. In patients with right ventricular afterload stress, better outcomes were observed in Thrombolytic Group than in Anticoagulation Group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in the rate of major bleeding episode between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that performing thrombolytic treatment in APTE patients with right ventricular afterload stress should be considered even in Japan.     

血清肌钙蛋白Ⅰ判断急性肺血栓栓塞症危险分层临床价值研究

目的探讨血清肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnⅠ)对急性肺血栓栓塞症(APTE)危险分层及预后的临床价值。方法选择中国医科大学附属盛京医院第二呼吸内科2007年1月至2010年2月确诊APTE并行cTnⅠ检查42例患者,按照外周血cTnⅠ水平,分为cTnⅠ阳性组20例与阴性组22例。比较两组患者临床特点、高危及中危APTE发生率、右心功能障碍、心源性休克及病死率。结果阳性组高危APTE 7例(35.0%),中危APTE 13例(65.0%);阴性组高危APTE 2例(9.1%),中危APTE 4例(18.1%)。发生心源性休克分别为7例(35.0%)、1例(4.5%)。阳性组死亡2例(10%)。两组晕厥、低氧、大面积及次大面积肺栓塞、肺动脉高压、右室扩大右心功能不全、心源性休克经统计学处理差异具有统计学意义。结论cTnI可作为APTE患者独立的预后指标,指导APTE治疗。     

Initial thrombolysis treatment compared with anticoagulation for acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis

Background

The use of thrombolysis in patients with acute, intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) remains controversial. This meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis and anticoagulation treatments for intermediate-risk PE patients.

Methods

Two investigators independently reviewed the literature and collected data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of thrombolysis for intermediate-risk PE in the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases (CBM).

Results

A total of 1,631 intermediate-risk PE patients from seven studies were included. Significant differences were not found regarding the 30-day, all-cause mortality rates between the thrombolytic and anticoagulant groups [odds ratio (OR), 0.60; 95% confident interval (CI), 0.34-1.06; P=0.08]. The rate of clinical deterioration in the thrombolytic group was lower than that in the anticoagulant group (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.18-0.41; P<0.01). Recurrent PE in the thrombolytic group was also significantly lower than that in the anticoagulant group (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.77; P=0.01). Comparing the thrombolytic and anticoagulation groups, the incidence of minor bleeding was significantly higher in the thrombolytic group (OR, 5.33; 95% CI, 2.85-9.97; P<0.00001), but there were no difference in the incidences of major bleeding events (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.60-7.16; P=0.25).

Conclusions

Thrombolytic treatment for intermediate-risk PE patients, if not contraindicated, could reduce clinical deterioration and recurrence of PE, and trends towards a decrease in all-cause, 30-day mortality. Despite thrombolytic treatment having an increased total bleeding risk, there was no difference in the incidence of major bleeding events, compared with patients receiving anticoagulation treatment.     

Association between antithrombotic treatments and prognosis of patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism in Japan.

The utility of thrombolysis in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) remains controversial, although anticoagulation therapy for APTE is well-established in Western countries. Nonetheless, large clinical trials of antithrombotic treatments for APTE have yet to be performed in Japan. In the present study, the association between antithrombotic treatments (thrombolysis and anticoagulation) and the clinical outcomes was retrospectively investigated in 225 APTE patients. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in hemodynamically stable patients who received anticoagulation therapy than in those who received no adequate therapy (0% vs 33%). Thrombolysis in patients with or without cardiogenic shock failed to improve the in-hospital outcomes compared with those who received anticoagulation treatment (8% vs 3%). There was no significant difference in the bleeding rate between patients receiving thrombolysis and anticoagulation (3% vs 3%). These results indicate that anticoagulation could reduce the mortality of hemodynamically stable APTE patients and that the outcome after thrombolysis or anticoagulation treatment was similar. However, this study was limited because it was executed retrospectively. Further prospective randomized trials to investigate the efficacy of thrombolysis in Japan should be performed to completely address this issue.     

Safety of thrombolytic therapy with urokinase or recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for peripheral arterial occlusion: a comprehensive compilation of published work.

PURPOSE: To report a comprehensive literature review focused on comparing the risk of complications with urokinase versus recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) for thrombolytic treatment of peripheral arterial occlusions. METHODS: The English-language literature between 1985 and 2002 was searched for studies that used tissue-derived urokinase or rtPA in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusions. Forty-eight studies (22 urokinase, 22 rtPA, and 4 that included both treatments) were identified, encompassing 2226 urokinase-treated patients and 1927 rtPA-treated patients. The safety of each thrombolytic agent was assessed based on the incidence of major hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, major limb amputation, transfusions, and mortality. RESULTS: The review revealed a wide range of study protocols, patient conditions, ages of occlusions, dosages/delivery methods of lytic agents, and criteria for reporting complications. The incidence of major hemorrhage varied widely, but the overall rate was lower among urokinase-treated patients (6.2%) than for patients treated with rtPA (8.4%, p=0.007). The overall incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage was also significantly lower for urokinase (0.4% versus 1.1% for rtPA, p=0.020). The major amputation rate was similar for both treatments (urokinase 7.9%, rtPA 7.2%), but the mortality rate was significantly lower for urokinase (3.0% versus 5.6% for rtPA, p<0.001). The need for transfusions was less frequent with urokinase (11.1% versus 16.1%, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results from a large body of published literature suggest that urokinase may be associated with a lower incidence of complications than rtPA in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusions.     

Local and systemic thrombolytic therapy for acute venous thromboembolism

Thrombolytic therapy unquestionably leads to more rapid and complete clot lysis with a significantly higher risk of bleeding when compared with anticoagulation. The most definite indication for thrombolytic therapy in patients with VTE is massive PE associated with hemodynamic instability. Other potential indications, although not widely accepted or proven, include PE-related respiratory failure with severe hypoxemia and massive iliofemoral thrombosis with the risk of phlegmasia cerulea dolens. Routine use of thrombolytic therapy in all other cases of PE and DVT cannot be justified. Future research using randomized controlled studies should focus on the following key questions: Do hemodynamically stable patients with PE and right ventricular dysfunction benefit from thrombolysis, and, if so, is there a subset of patients within this group who are most likely to benefit? Does thrombolytic therapy improve long-term outcomes of DVT with a favorable risk-to-benefit ratio, and, if so, which patients are most likely to benefit long-term? What is the precise role of catheter-directed thrombolysis in the treatment of VTE, particularly the use of a low-dose thrombolytic agent in conjunction with mechanical clot disruption to minimize bleeding in patients at high risk? Until these questions are answered, clinicians must approach decision-making regarding the use of thrombolytic therapy in PE and DVT with careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits for the patient within the framework of currently available data.     

Clinical Effectiveness of Anticoagulation Therapy Among Older Patients With Heart Failure and Without Atrial Fibrillation: Findings From the ADHERE Registry Linked to Medicare Claims

BackgroundPatients with heart failure are at higher risk for thromboembolic events, even in the absence of atrial fibrillation, but the effect of anticoagulation therapy on outcomes is uncertain.Methods and ResultsWith data from a clinical registry linked to Medicare claims, we estimated the adjusted associations between anticoagulation and 1-year outcomes with the use of inverse probability of treatment weighting. Eligible patients had an ejection fraction ≤35%, had no concurrent atrial fibrillation, were alive at discharge, and had not received anticoagulation therapy before admission. Of 13,217 patients in 276 hospitals, 1,140 (8.6%) received anticoagulation therapy at discharge. Unadjusted rates of thromboembolic events and major adverse cardiovascular events did not differ by receipt of anticoagulation therapy. Patients discharged on anticoagulation therapy had lower unadjusted rates of all-cause mortality (27.2% vs 32.3%; P < .001) and readmission for heart failure (29.4% vs 35.4%; P < .001) and higher rates of bleeding events (5.2% vs 2.8%; P < .001). After adjustment for probability of treatment and discharge medications, there were no differences in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.80–1.06) or readmission for heart failure (0.91, 0.81–1.02), but patients receiving anticoagulation therapy were at higher risk for bleeding events (2.09, 1.47–2.97).ConclusionsAnticoagulation therapy at discharge is infrequent among older patients with heart failure and without atrial fibrillation. There were no statistically significant propensity-weighted associations between anticoagulation therapy and 1-year outcomes, except for a higher risk of bleeding.     

Incidence and predictors of major hemorrhagic complications from thrombolytic therapy in patients with massive pulmonary embolism

PURPOSE: The risk factors for bleeding in patients receiving recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for massive pulmonary embolism are not known.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The hospital records of 132 consecutive patients who received recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for massive pulmonary embolism were retrospectively reviewed. Bleeding was estimated by using the bleeding severity index, a method previously validated in patients receiving anticoagulants. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for bleeding. Four other definitions of bleeding in large pulmonary embolism thrombolytic trials were also used, and the agreement among these criteria was assessed.RESULTS: According to the bleeding severity index, 33 patients (25%) had one or more major bleeding complications. Hemorrhage at the venous puncture site for angiography was the most frequent complication (15 patients, 11%). Major bleeding at the catheterization site was more common at the femoral site (14 of 63 patients = 22%) than at the brachial site (1 of 63 patients = 2%; P = 0.0004). The use of the five different bleeding definitions resulted in a variation in the major bleeding rate from 3% to 43%. The kappa coefficient varied from 0.07 to 0.84, indicating poor agreement between most of the classifications.CONCLUSION: The use of the femoral vein for pulmonary angiography was the only variable significantly associated with major bleeding. Most of the differences observed in the pulmonary embolism thrombolytic trials are likely related to the differences in the definition of bleeding rather than to the thrombolytic regimen.