Catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN22121045 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN22121045 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | EK-VP/49/0/2019 |
| Sponsor | Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady |
| Funder | Univerzita Karlova v Praze |
- Submission date
- 30/01/2022
- Registration date
- 31/01/2022
- Last edited
- 08/06/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and life-threatening disease. It occurs when a blood clot gets lodged in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow to part of the lung. Patients with intermediate- to high-risk acute PE have an increased risk of early death. Based on the current treatment recommendations, systemic thrombolysis (treatment to dissolve blood clots) is not recommended in these patients because of the increased risk of severe bleeding complications (including bleeding in the brain), so anticoagulation treatment (medicines that help prevent blood clots) have been the mainstay of treatment over the last decades. The aim of this study is to compare catheter-directed local thrombolysis to standard anticoagulation treatment in patients with intermediate to high-risk acute PE. Catheter-directed thrombolysis uses x-ray imaging to help guide medication to the site of a blood clot and dissolve it.
Who can participate?
Patients aged over 18 years with acute pulmonary embolism.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to undergo catheter-directed treatment or standard anticoagulation treatment. All participants will undergo CT scans, first as a standard diagnostic procedure and a second at 48 hours after random allocation.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The study will provide information about the effectiveness and safety of catheter-directed local thrombolysis in patients with intermediate to high-risk acute PE. There is a small risk of bleeding complications taking into account invasive procedures and the use of a small dose of antithrombotic drugs.
Where is the study run from?
University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague (Czech Republic)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2019 to May 2021
Who is funding the study?
1. University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady (Czech Republic)
2. Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic)
Who is the main contact?
Josef Kroupa
mudr.kroupa@gmail.com or josef.kroupa@fnkv.cz
Contact information
Public
Srobarova 1150/50
Prague
10034
Czech Republic
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-5644-0449 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +420 (0)267162701 |
| josef.kroupa@fnkv.cz |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single tertiary care centre investigator-initiated randomized interventional study |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with intermediate-high risk acute pulmonary embolism: a randomized pilot study |
| Study objectives | Catheter-directed local thrombolysis in patients with intermediate-high risk acute pulmonary embolism improves right ventricle function more effectively in comparison to standard anticoagulation therapy without an increased risk of severe bleeding complications. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 04/09/2019, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady Ethics Committee (Srobarova 1150/50, 100 34 Prague, Czech Republic; +420 (0)267 16 2272; eticka.komise@fnkv.cz), ref: EK-VP/49/0/2019 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Acute pulmonary embolism |
| Intervention | Study participants with CT angiographically (CTA) verified acute pulmonary embolism are randomized using the envelope method into two groups - catheter-directed local thrombolysis (CDT group - interventional) and standard anticoagulation therapy (standard care group). Patients randomized into the CDT group will undergo the interventional procedure catheter-directed local thrombolysis using two thrombolytic catheters placed in each of the right and left interlobar pulmonary arteries with a short overlap in the main pulmonary artery. Subsequent continuous infusion of alteplase at 1 mg/h/catheter will be initiated for 10 h (total dose 20 mg). After the end of local thrombolysis, the catheters will be removed and standard anticoagulation therapy will be continued. Patients randomized into the standard care group will continue standard anticoagulation therapy. All patients will undergo a second CTA at 48 h after randomization. Follow-up periods in-hospital, discharge, 30 days. |
| Intervention type | Procedure/Surgery |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Effectiveness of CDT, defined as improved right ventricle function (at least two of the following criteria are met): |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Technical success of catheter-directed treatment, defined as successful catheter placement followed by continuous infusion of alteplase at the time of the procedure |
| Completion date | 31/05/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 45 |
| Total final enrolment | 28 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged >18 years 2. Computed tomography angiography (CTA)-verified proximal* PE and symptom onset <14 days prior 3. Intermediate-high risk PE with a SPESI score ≥1 and RV dysfunction** and an elevated biomarker *** (hs-troponin or NT-proBNP) level * A perfusion defect in at least one main or one lobar pulmonary artery evident on CTA ** RV/LV ratio ≥0.9 on transthoracic echocardiography or CTA *** hs-troponin I (TnI) >53 ng/l (men) or >34 ng/l (women); NT-proBNP level >600 pg/ml |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Active clinically significant bleeding 2. Any hemorrhagic stroke OR a recent (< 6 months) ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack 3. Recent (<3 months) cranial trauma OR another active intracranial/intraspinal process 4. Major surgery within 7 days prior 5. RV/LV ratio <0.7 on transthoracic echocardiography or CTA 6. Active malignancy or other severe illness with expected survival <2 years 7. Haemoglobin level <80 g/l; international normalised ratio >2.0, platelet count ≤100 x 10e9; creatinine level >200 µmol/l 8. Pregnant or breastfeeding, fertility without previous exclusion of gravidity 9. Allergic to thrombolytics or heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), contrast allergy, a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia 10. Participation in another clinical trial |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/11/2019 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/04/2021 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Czech Republic
Study participating centre
Prague
10034
Czech Republic
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | Participant level data will be available upon request to principal investigator Josef Kroupa (mudr.kroupa@gmail.com). Data are already available, will be available for 5 years, and are anonymized. Participant consent was not obtained for sharing other data. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 27/05/2022 | 08/06/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
08/06/2022: Publication reference added.
31/01/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the Multicentric Ethics Committee of The University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady.
