Thrombolysis of acute peripheral arterial and venous occlusions with tenecteplase and eptifibatide: A pilot study

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess the feasibility, risk profile, and effect on fibrinogen levels of combination tenecteplase (TNK) and eptifibatide in transcatheter thrombolysis for peripheral arterial and venous thromboocclusive disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients (seven men, nine women) seen at our institution between March and August 2002 with arterial (n = 11) or venous (n = 5) thromboocclusive disease were treated with TNK (5-mg bolus and 0.25-mg/h infusion) and eptifibatide (180-mug/kg bolus and 1-mug/kg/min infusion). Informed consent was obtained. Technical success was defined as restoration of antegrade flow and more than 95% removal of thrombus. Clinical success in arterial cases was defined as immediate limb salvage and relief of ischemic rest pain, and in venous cases as resolution or improvement in extremity pain and swelling. Major bleeding was defined as an intracranial bleeding episode, bleeding resulting in death, or bleeding requiring transfusion, surgery, or cessation of thrombolytic therapy. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 10 of 11 arterial cases (91%) and in four of five venous cases (80%). Clinical success was achieved in nine of 11 arterial cases (82%) and in four of five venous cases (80%). The mean duration of thrombolysis was 12.1 hours +/- 5.8 (range, 2-22 hours), requiring a total TNK dose of 8.0 mg +/- 1.5 (range, 4.0-10.5). A major bleeding episode occurred in one of 16 patients (6.3%) as a result of slow oozing from a femoral groin access site and required transfusion of 2 U of packed red blood cells. There were no deaths, intracranial hemorrhages, remote sites of bleeding, or minor bleeding complications. The serum fibrinogen level decreased to a mean of 59.3% +/- 34.6 of baseline. CONCLUSION: In this initial study, the combination of TNK and eptifibatide was shown to be feasible for peripheral arterial and venous thrombolysis.