Half-Dose tPA Shown to Be Effective in Treating Moderate PE

March 27, 2012—The MOPETT (Moderate Pulmonary Embolism Treated With Thrombolysis) study found that using half the usual dose of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) not only effectively dissolved clots in patients with moderate pulmonary embolism (PE), but also led to earlier hospital discharge and a reduced rate of pulmonary hypertension and recurrent PE without causing bleeding or other major side effects. Lead Investigator Mohsen Sharifi, MD, presented the data at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) annual scientific sessions in Chicago.

“Pulmonary embolism can be more aggressively—and above all, safely—managed with what we call ‘safe-dose thrombolysis,'” commented Dr. Sharifi. “Eighty percent or more of pulmonary embolism patients would benefit from this treatment.”

The ACC noted that although other research has investigated the use of thrombolytics for moderate PE, this is the first study to show that using a lower dose of tPA and anticoagulants can be safe and effective for such patients. These findings could ultimately change the way doctors treat hundreds of thousands of patients each year.

According to the ACC, the MOPETT study enrolled 121 patients with moderate PE; 61 of the patients were given a half-dose of thrombolytic drugs with a modified regimen of anticoagulants, and 60 patients were given anticoagulants alone. Patients were followed for 28 months.

Dr. Sharifi stated that expanding the use of safe-dose thrombolysis to more aggressively treat moderate PE could help prevent patients from developing more serious complications later on. He further emphasized the need to lower the dose of anticoagulants given along with tPA.

“Moderate pulmonary embolism may be the tip of the iceberg,” noted Dr. Sharifi. “These patients might be doing okay initially, but ultimately, in the subsequent few years, they may develop complications.”