ClinicalTrials.gg
Active, not recruitingNCT03581877Updated Oct 3, 2024

Peripheral Systemic Thrombolysis Versus Catheter Directed Thrombolysis for Submassive PE

A Phase 4 interventional study of Alteplase and EKOS in Pulmonary Embolism, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thromboembolism, sponsored by Northwell Health. Active, not recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 89 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-10-03.

Sponsored by Northwell Health · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
31
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 89 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To determine whether peripheral low dose systemic thrombolysis (PLST) is non-inferior to catheter directed acoustic pulse thrombolysis (ACDT) in improving RV function and reducing pulmonary artery pressures in submassive pulmonary embolism (PE)

Read the detailed description

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening event associated with high morbidity and mortality. With more than 100,000 deaths per year, PE constitutes the third most common cardiovascular cause of death following myocardial infarction and stroke. In non massive PE, anticoagulation is the treatment of choice. Advanced treatment options such as systemic thrombolysis in submassive and massive PE help reduce mortality but unfortunately are associated with bleeding complications such as a 2 to 5% risk of hemorrhagic stroke.This has led to development of pharmaco-mechanical therapies such as catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT).

Current guidelines advocate against the use of full dose systemic thrombolysis for acute submassive PE in all patients unless the bleeding risk is very low. CDT has shown efficiency in reducing right ventricular strain and pulmonary hypertension without increasing bleeding complications in trial populations. Ultrasound assisted CDT (ACDT) is an established treatment modality for acute PE which utilizes high frequency low power ultrasonic waves. It is FDA approved for sub-massive and massive pulmonary embolism. However, ultrasound does not breakdown the thrombus itself but increases the permeability for thrombolytic drugs. The ULTIMA trial showed ACDT was superior to anticoagulation treatment in reducing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular dilatation in submassive and massive PE. The trial also reported no intracranial hemorrhage. The exact benefit and mechanism of ACDT in dissolving clots is still not clear. Recently, the PERFECT registry described 100 patients who underwent CDT (64%) and ACDT (46%) for PE, the study showed no difference in reduction of pulmonary artery pressures.

ACDT requires the placement of catheters in the pulmonary arteries in a catheterization laboratory by an interventional cardiologist/radiologist through the internal jugular vein/femoral vein and catheters are kept for 12-24 hrs to infuse recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tpa). While many healthcare systems have developed a pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) to make a prompt therapeutic decision in submassive and massive pulmonary embolism management. However, it is not uncommon for CDT to be delayed (sometimes > 12 hours) after the initial diagnosis due to the availability of the interventional cardiologist. Furthermore, placement of pulmonary catheters in CDT can have the risk, albeit low, of pulmonary vasculature injury.

The investigators hypothesize that low dose thrombolytic therapy can be administered through a peripheral vein. PLST is rapidly administrable and does not require placement in a catheterization laboratory by an interventional cardiologist. In addition, the use of low dose r-tpa reduces risk of major bleeding complications. The investigators aim to see if equivalent low dose r-tpa given peripherally i.e PLST is non-inferior to ACDT for the treatment of submassive PE. Both treatments will be compared in safety, efficacy and overall cardiopulmonary function.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Thromboembolism
  • Right Ventricular Dysfunction

Keywords

  • Alteplase
  • submassive pulmonary embolism
  • Thrombolysis
  • pulmonary catheter
03

In context

Pulmonary Embolism

832 studies on the registry are indexed under Pulmonary Embolism; 171 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 31 is below the median of 174 across 429 interventional studies indexed under Pulmonary Embolism.

Browse Pulmonary Embolism studies →

Lead sponsor

Northwell Health is the lead sponsor of 475 studies on the registry; 107 are open to participants now.

Of its 45 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 23 (51%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 89 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age 18 years or older, able to consent
  2. Submassive PE evidenced by CT showing saddle pulmonary embolism, central right and/or left main pulmonary artery emboli.
  3. Submassive PE confirmed by right ventricular dimension to left ventricular dimension ratio ≥ 1 in apical 4-chamber view echo/CT scan.
  4. Signs of RV dysfunction by echocardiogram, or elevated troponin I >0.04, or pro-BNP > 400 on serial measurements.
  5. PE symptom duration less than or equal to 14 days -

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Age \<18 to age >90 years;
  2. PE symptom duration >14 days;
  3. Administration of thrombolytic drugs in the last 4 days
  4. to thrombolytic therapy:

    1. Active bleeding disorder or coagulation disorder;
    2. count \<100 000/mm3
    3. Hematocrit \< 30%
    4. > 3
    5. Previous history of vitamin K antagonists with international normalized ratio >2.5 on admission
    6. History of intracranial or intraspinal surgery or trauma or intracranial/intraspinal bleeding
    7. Intracranial neoplasm
    8. Arteriovenous malformation, or aneurysm
    9. Gastrointestinal bleeding \<3 months
    10. Internal eye surgery or hemorrhagic retinopathy less than three-month duration
    11. Major surgery, cataract surgery, obstetric delivery, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or invasive procedure less than10 days duration
    12. Allergy, , or thrombocytopenia caused heparin or tPA
  5. Severe contrast allergy to iodinated contrast
  6. Large (>10 mm) right atrial or right ventricular thrombus
  7. Systolic blood pressure \<90 mm Hg
  8. Severe hypertension on repeat measurement (systolic >180 mm Hg or diastolic >105 mm Hg)
  9. Pregnancy
  10. In any other drug or device study
  11. Inability to follow instructions or comply with treatment

    -

Terms in these criteria, in plain language(5)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
31 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Peripheral low dose thrombolysis

    Peripheral low dose thrombolysis will use a peripheral vein into an arm as in routine intravenous therapy. This is the experimental arm. Alteplate (R-tpa) belong to thrombolytic or fibrnolytic drug class. Routine hospital policies for peripheral venous therapy will be used. A fixed dose of 24 mg of Activase (Atleplase) over 12 hours or 2.0 mg/hr will be administered peripherally. Simultaneously, intravenous unfractionated heparin will be given with a target partial thromboplastin time of 40 to 60 secs.

    Drug: Alteplase

  • Active comparator
    Catheter directed acoustic thrombolysis

    For ACDT, routine hospital protocols and EKOS(generic) will be used. EKOS is made up of 3 parts which include the drug delivery pulmonary artery catheter, a removable microsonic device, and a reusable Eko-Sonic control unit. Venous access will be obtained by ultrasound guidance in the internal jugular vein or femoral vein. After catheter placement, the right heart pressures will be measured. R-tpa will be directly given into the pulmonary catheter. A fixed dose of 24 mg of tpa over 12 hours or 2.0mg/hr will be given. For unilateral PE, a single catheter will be used with infusion rate of 2 mg//hr and two catheters will be used for bilateral PEs each with 1 mg /hr infusion rate. Intravenous unfractionated heparin will be given with a target partial thromboplastin time of 40 to 60 secs.

    Device: EKOS

Interventions

  • As stated before, low dose r-tpa will be administered through a peripheral vein for PLST.

    Also known as: Peripheral low dose systemic thrombolysis (PLST)

  • DeviceEKOS

    As stated before, the EKos device will be used for ultrasound assisted catheter directed thrombolysis or ACDT, same dose t-tpa will administered through the pulmonary catheter. It will be given at a fixed dose over 24 hours.

    Also known as: Ultrasound assisted catheter directed thrombolysis (ACDT)

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Right ventricle (RV) to Left ventricle (LV) ratio

    Investigators will measure and compare the change between baseline and 48 hours right ventricular diameter to left ventricular diameter (RV:LV ratio) on echocardiogram after PLST or ACDT

    Time frame: 48 hours

  2. Pulmonary pressures

    Investigators will measure and compare the change between baseline and 48 hours pulmonary pressures (mm Hg) with echocardiogram following therapy with PLST or ACDT therapy.

    Time frame: 48 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mortality

    Composite of all-cause mortality and fatal bleeding in-hospital and at 30-day

    Time frame: 30 days

Other outcomes

  1. Right ventricle (RV) to Left ventricle (LV) ratio

    Investigators will measure and compare the change between baseline and 30 days right ventricular diameter to left ventricular diameter (RV:LV ratio) on echocardiogram after PLST or ACDT

    Time frame: 30 days

  2. Pulmonary pressures

    Investigators will measure and compare the change between baseline and 30 days pulmonary pressures (mm Hg) with echocardiogram following therapy with PLST or ACDT therapy.

    Time frame: 30 days

07

Study locations

2 sites
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Anderson FA Jr, Wheeler HB, Goldberg RJ, Hosmer DW, Patwardhan NA, Jovanovic B, Forcier A, Dalen JE. A population-based perspective of the hospital incidence and case-fatality rates of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The Worcester DVT Study. Arch Intern Med. 1991 May;151(5):933-8. PubMed 2025141 ↗
  • Chatterjee S, Chakraborty A, Weinberg I, Kadakia M, Wilensky RL, Sardar P, Kumbhani DJ, Mukherjee D, Jaff MR, Giri J. Thrombolysis for pulmonary embolism and risk of all-cause mortality, major bleeding, and intracranial hemorrhage: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2014 Jun 18;311(23):2414-21. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.5990. PubMed 24938564 ↗
  • Kuo WT, Gould MK, Louie JD, Rosenberg JK, Sze DY, Hofmann LV. Catheter-directed therapy for the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism: systematic review and meta-analysis of modern techniques. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2009 Nov;20(11):1431-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2009.08.002. PubMed 19875060 ↗
  • Jaff MR, McMurtry MS, Archer SL, Cushman M, Goldenberg N, Goldhaber SZ, Jenkins JS, Kline JA, Michaels AD, Thistlethwaite P, Vedantham S, White RJ, Zierler BK; American Heart Association Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; American Heart Association Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; American Heart Association Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Management of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism, iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011 Apr 26;123(16):1788-830. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0b013e318214914f. Epub 2011 Mar 21. Erratum In: Circulation. 2012 Aug 14;126(7):e104. Circulation. 2012 Mar 20;125(11):e495. PubMed 21422387 ↗
  • Kucher N, Boekstegers P, Muller OJ, Kupatt C, Beyer-Westendorf J, Heitzer T, Tebbe U, Horstkotte J, Muller R, Blessing E, Greif M, Lange P, Hoffmann RT, Werth S, Barmeyer A, Hartel D, Grunwald H, Empen K, Baumgartner I. Randomized, controlled trial of ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism. Circulation. 2014 Jan 28;129(4):479-86. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.005544. Epub 2013 Nov 13. PubMed 24226805 ↗
  • Piazza G, Hohlfelder B, Jaff MR, Ouriel K, Engelhardt TC, Sterling KM, Jones NJ, Gurley JC, Bhatheja R, Kennedy RJ, Goswami N, Natarajan K, Rundback J, Sadiq IR, Liu SK, Bhalla N, Raja ML, Weinstock BS, Cynamon J, Elmasri FF, Garcia MJ, Kumar M, Ayerdi J, Soukas P, Kuo W, Liu PY, Goldhaber SZ; SEATTLE II Investigators. A Prospective, Single-Arm, Multicenter Trial of Ultrasound-Facilitated, Catheter-Directed, Low-Dose Fibrinolysis for Acute Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism: The SEATTLE II Study. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2015 Aug 24;8(10):1382-1392. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2015.04.020. PubMed 26315743 ↗
  • Braaten JV, Goss RA, Francis CW. Ultrasound reversibly disaggregates fibrin fibers. Thromb Haemost. 1997 Sep;78(3):1063-8. PubMed 9308755 ↗
  • Engelberger RP, Spirk D, Willenberg T, Alatri A, Do DD, Baumgartner I, Kucher N. Ultrasound-assisted versus conventional catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2015 Jan;8(1):e002027. doi: 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.114.002027. PubMed 25593121 ↗
  • Kuo WT, Banerjee A, Kim PS, DeMarco FJ Jr, Levy JR, Facchini FR, Unver K, Bertini MJ, Sista AK, Hall MJ, Rosenberg JK, De Gregorio MA. Pulmonary Embolism Response to Fragmentation, Embolectomy, and Catheter Thrombolysis (PERFECT): Initial Results From a Prospective Multicenter Registry. Chest. 2015 Sep;148(3):667-673. doi: 10.1378/chest.15-0119. PubMed 25856269 ↗
  • Becattini C, Agnelli G, Salvi A, Grifoni S, Pancaldi LG, Enea I, Balsemin F, Campanini M, Ghirarduzzi A, Casazza F; TIPES Study Group. Bolus tenecteplase for right ventricle dysfunction in hemodynamically stable patients with pulmonary embolism. Thromb Res. 2010 Mar;125(3):e82-6. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2009.09.017. Epub 2009 Oct 14. PubMed 19833379 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Investigators are not planning to share information or participant data with other researchers

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 3, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03581877
Lead sponsor
Northwell Health
Responsible party
Azhar Supariwala MD, FACC, FASE (Director of Structural Imaging Southside Hospital Northwell Health, Northwell Health) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 10, 2018
Start date
Jan 28, 2019
Primary completion
Mar 19, 2023
Completion
Mar 19, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 3, 2024

Study contacts

Azhar Supariwala, MD
principal investigator · Southside Northwell Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

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Studies of the drug tested here: Tissue Plasminogen Activator

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