Key result
Thrombolytic therapy may dissolve blood clots more rapidly than heparin and reduce the death rate associated with pulmonary embolism, though risks of haemorrhage remain.
Why the study?
While evidence suggests thrombolytic therapy dissolves blood clots more rapidly than heparin and may reduce PE-associated mortality, concerns persist regarding adverse effects such as major or minor haemorrhage.
Does thrombolytic therapy reduce the death rate in people with clinically serious or massive pulmonary embolism compared to heparin?
Systematic Review
Does thrombolytic therapy reduce the death rate in people with clinically serious or massive pulmonary embolism compared to heparin?
Thrombolytic therapy may dissolve blood clots more rapidly than heparin and reduce the death rate associated with PE, though with concerns for haemorrhage risk.
May support thrombolysis in massive PE; reinforces mortality benefit while leaving haemorrhage risk-benefit unresolved.
Thrombolytic therapy is usually reserved for people with clinically serious or massive pulmonary embolism (PE). Evidence suggests that thrombolytic agents may dissolve blood clots more rapidly than heparin and may reduce the death rate associated with PE. However, there are still concerns about the possible risk of adverse effects of thrombolytic therapy, such as major or minor haemorrhage. This is the fourth update of the Cochrane review first published in 2006.
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Zuo et al. (2021) conducted a systematic review in pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic therapy vs. heparin was evaluated. Thrombolytic therapy may dissolve blood clots more rapidly than heparin and reduce the death rate associated with pulmonary embolism, though risks of haemorrhage remain.
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