Intra-arterial fibrinolytic agents may be more effective than intravenous agents for peripheral arterial occlusion

January 01, 0001

Intra-arterial fibrinolytic agents may be more effective than intravenous agents for peripheral arterial occlusion

Clinical Question: Which are the most effective fibrinolytic agents for peripheral arterial occlusion?

Bottom line: There was some evidence to suggest intra-arterial (IA) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was more effective than IA streptokinase or intravenous (IV) rt-PA in improving vessel patency in people with peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO). There was no evidence IA rt-PA was more effective than IA urokinase for patients with PAO. There was some evidence initial lysis may be more rapid with rt-PA, depending on the regimen. The incidence of haemorrhagic complications varied with fibrinolytic regimen but there were no statistically significant differences between IA urokinase and IA rt-PA. IV rt-PA and IA streptokinase were associated with a significantly higher risk of haemorrhagic complications than IA rt-PA. The drugs investigated were streptokinase, urokinase, rt-PA and pro-urokinase.

Caveat:No particular drug was more effective in preventing limb loss or death than another. All of the findings came from small studies, and the general paucity of results means it is not possible to draw clear conclusions.

Context: Peripheral arterial thrombolysis is used in the management of peripheral arterial ischaemia. Streptokinase was originally used but safety concerns have led to the introduction of other agents such as urokinase and rt-PA. These newer agents were thought to have potential advantages, such as improved safety, greater efficacy, and a more rapid response.

Cochrane Systematic Review: Robertson I et al. Fibrinolytic agents for peripheral arterial occlusion. Cochrane Reviews 2010, Issue 3. Article No. CD001099. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001099.pub2. This review contains 5 studies involving 687 participants.

Cochrane PEARLS Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations. No. 268, June 2010. .
Written by Brian R McAvoy. Published by the Cochrane Primary Care Group

Category: K. Circulatory. Keywords: arterial thrombosis, fibrinolysis, streptokinase, urokinase, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, pro-urokinase
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 26 October 2010

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Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.