Effect of Recombinant Single-Chain Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator on Experimental Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

To compare experimental canine pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) treatment effects among domestic recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA), recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), and heparin, we injected autologous blood clots into 19 dogs. Those dogs were divided into 3 groups randomly: (1) scu-PA group (n = 6), (2) rt-PA group (n = 6), and (3) heparin group (n = 7). The measurement of hemodynamics and pulmonary angiography was, respectively, carried out at the time spots of preemboli and postemboli, 2 hours and 3 hours after treatment. Results: (1) An obvious increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) from preemboli (P < .01) and a decrease in cardiac output (CO; P < .01) after blood clot injection. (2) Intergroup comparisons 2 and 3 hours after treatment: mPAP in scu-PA and rt-PA groups were remarkably lower than those of heparin group (P < .05). (3) Intragroup comparisons after thrombolysis, mPAP declined obviously (P < .01), heparin group saw a further decrease in CO. (4) Pulmonary angiography scoring: decrease in the 2 thrombolytic groups was higher than that of the heparin group. Conclusions: The effects of domestic recombinant scu-PA in experimental PTE resemble that of rt-PA in terms of the improvements of hemodynamics and angiography, better than heparin.