Overview

A single-center, open-label, randomized comparative study of two treatment strategies in patients with intermediate-high-risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to standard anticoagulant therapy or standard catheter-directed thrombolysis (SСDT) with a low dose of alteplase, followed by evaluation of short- and long-term efficacy and safety in each group

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 years
• Computed tomography angiography (CTA) - verified proximal (pulmonary trunk and/or main and/or lobar branches of the pulmonary artery) PE and symptom onset < 14 days prior
• Intermediate-high risk PE with a RV dysfunction (RV/LV diameter ratio >1 on TTE or CTA) and an elevated biomarker (hs-troponin or NT-proBNP) level
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• High-risk pulmonary embolism
• Thrombus in the heart chambers on TTE
• Absolute contraindications for the use of thrombolytic therapy: history of hemorrhagic stroke or stroke of unknown etiology; ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack within the last 6 months; extensive bleeding currently or within the previous 6 months, hemorrhagic diathesis; diseases of the central nervous system (including neoplasms, aneurysm, surgery on the brain or spinal cord); intracranial (including subarachnoid) hemorrhage currently or in history, suspicion of hemorrhagic stroke; severe uncontrolled arterial hypertension; major surgery or major trauma within the previous 3 months, recent traumatic brain injury; labor during the previous 10 days; severe liver diseases, including liver failure, cirrhosis, portal hypertension (including esophageal varices) and active hepatitis; bacterial endocarditis, pericarditis; acute pancreatitis; confirmed peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum within the last 3 months; arterial aneurysms, congenital anomalies of arteries/veins;
• Haemoglobin level < 70 g/L, platelet count ≤ 100 x 109
• Allergic to alteplase or UFH or contrast allergy
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Clinically significant malignancies