RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF INTRAARTERIAL RECOMBINANT TISSUE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR, INTRAVENOUS RECOMBINANT TISSUE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR AND INTRAARTERIAL STREPTOKINASE IN PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL THROMBOLYSIS

Sixty patients were recruited into a randomized parallel group comparison of three thrombolytic regimens for acute or subacute peripheral arterial thrombosis. There were no significant differences in age, duration of history, length of occlusion or presence of neurosensory deficit between the groups. Initially successful lysis was significantly greater with intra-arterial (IA) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) than with either streptokinase (Sk) (P < 0.04) or intravenous (IV) rt-PA (P < 0.01). The duration of therapy varied from a median of 35 h with IA rt-PA to 40 h with Sk (P > 0.5). The median (confidence interval) increase in ankle: brachial pressure index following IA rt-PA of 0.57 (0.33-0.82) was significantly higher than for either SK of 0.24 (0-0.57) or for IV rt-PA of 0.18 (0-0.41). Limb salvage at 30 days was achieved in 80, 60 and 45 per cent respectively for IA rt-PA, Sk and IV rt-PA. Haemorrhagic complications occurred in six patients following Sk and in 13 following IV rt-PA; only one minor haemorrhage occurred following a catheter perforation in a patient who received IA rt-PA (P < 0.05). IA rt-PA provides a more effective, safer fibrinolytic regimen than conventional therapy with Sk. IV rt-PA has not been as successful and carries a significantly higher risk of haemorrhagic complications.