Pulmonary Embolism Medication

  • Author: Daniel R Ouellette, MD, FCCP; Chief Editor: Zab Mosenifar, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 15, 2012
 

Medication Summary

Immediate therapeutic anticoagulation is initiated for patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Anticoagulation therapy with heparin reduces mortality rates from 30% to less than 10%. Anticoagulation is essential, but anticoagulation alone does not guarantee a successful outcome. DVT and PE may recur or extend despite full and effective heparin anticoagulation.

Chronic anticoagulation is critical to prevent relapse of DVT or PE following initial heparinization. Heparin works by activating antithrombin III to slow or prevent the progression of DVT and to reduce the size and frequency of PE. Heparin does not dissolve existing clot.

The current eighth edition of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines for antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy are summarized as follows:

  • All patients with pulmonary embolism require rapid risk stratification (grade 1C).
  • Thrombolytic therapy should be used in patients with evidence of hemodynamic compromise, except in the face of major contraindications due to bleeding risks (grade 1B). Do not delay thrombolysis in this population, owing to the potential for the development of irreversible cardiogenic shock.
  • Thrombolytic therapy is suggested in select high-risk patients who do not have hypotension and are at low risk for bleeding (grade 2B).
  • Assessment of pulmonary embolism severity, prognosis, and risk of bleeding dictate whether thrombolytic therapy should be started. Thrombolytic therapy is not recommended for most patients (grade 1B).

The current ACCP guidelines recommend that all patients with unprovoked pulmonary embolism should undergo a risk-to-benefit evaluation to determine if long-term therapy is needed (grade 1C). Long-term treatment is recommended for these patients who do not have risk factors for bleeding and in whom accurate anticoagulant monitoring is possible (grade 1A).

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Anticoagulants

Class Summary

Heparin augments the activity of antithrombin III and prevents the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Full-dose LMWH or full-dose unfractionated IV heparin should be initiated at the first suspicion of DVT or PE.

With proper dosing, several LMWH products have been found safer and more effective than unfractionated heparin both for prophylaxis and for treatment of DVT and PE. Monitoring the aPTT is neither necessary nor useful when giving LMWH, because the drug is most active in a tissue phase and does not exert most of its effects on coagulation factor IIa.

Many different LMWH products are available around the world. Because of pharmacokinetic differences, dosing is highly product specific. Several LMWH products are approved for use in the United States: enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), and tinzaparin (Innohep). Enoxaparin and tinzaparin are currently approved by the FDA for treatment of DVT. Dalteparin is FDA approved for prophylaxis and has approval for cancer patients. Each of the other agents has been approved by the FDA at a lower dose for prophylaxis, but all appear to be safe and effective at some therapeutic dose in patients with active DVT or PE.

Fractionated LMWH administered subcutaneously is now the preferred choice for initial anticoagulation therapy. Unfractionated IV heparin can be nearly as effective but is more difficult to titrate for therapeutic effect. Warfarin maintenance therapy may be initiated after 1-3 days of effective heparinization.

The weight-adjusted heparin dosing regimens that are appropriate for prophylaxis and treatment of coronary artery thrombosis are too low to be used unmodified in the treatment of active DVT and PE. Coronary artery thrombosis does not result from hypercoagulability but rather from platelet adhesion to ruptured plaque. In contrast, patients with DVT and PE are in the midst of a hypercoagulable crisis, and aggressive countermeasures are essential to reduce mortality and morbidity rates.

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Enoxaparin (Lovenox)

 

Exonaparin was the first low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) released in the United States. It was approved by the FDA for both treatment and prophylaxis of DVT and PE. Enoxaparin enhances the inhibition of factor Xa and thrombin by increasing antithrombin III activity. In addition, it preferentially increases the inhibition of factor Xa. LMWH has been used widely in pregnancy, although clinical trials are not yet available to demonstrate that it is as safe as unfractionated heparin. Except in overdoses, checking PT or aPTT has no utility, as aPTT does not correlate with anticoagulant effect of fractionated LMWH. Factor Xa levels can be monitored if concern arises about whether the dose is adequate.

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Dalteparin (Fragmin)

 

Dalteparin is an LMWH with many similarities to enoxaparin but with a different dosing schedule. It is approved for DVT prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Except in overdoses, checking PT or aPTT has no utility, as aPTT does not correlate with anticoagulant effect of fractionated LMWH. LMWH. Factor Xa levels can be monitored if concern arises about whether the dose is adequate.

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Tinzaparin (Innohep)

 

Tinzaparin is approved for treatment of DVT in hospitalized patients. Enhances inhibition of factor Xa and thrombin by increasing antithrombin III activity. In addition, preferentially increases inhibition of factor Xa.

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Heparin (Hep-Lock U/P, Hep-Lock, Hep-Flush-10)

 

Heparin augments the activity of antithrombin III and prevents conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. It does not actively lyse but is able to inhibit further thrombogenesis. Heparin prevents the reaccumulation of a clot after spontaneous fibrinolysis. When UFH is used, the aPTT should not be checked until 6 hours after the initial heparin bolus, because an extremely high or low value during this time should not provoke any action

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Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

 

Warfarin (Coumadin) interferes with the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors. It is used for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and thromboembolic disorders. Never administer warfarin to patients with thrombosis until after they have been fully anticoagulated with heparin (the first few days of warfarin therapy produce a hypercoagulable state). Failing to anticoagulate with heparin before starting warfarin causes clot extension and recurrent thromboembolism in approximately 40% of patients, compared with 8% of those who receive full-dose heparin before starting warfarin. Heparin should be continued for the first 5-7 days of oral warfarin therapy, regardless of the PT time, to allow time for depletion of procoagulant vitamin K–dependent proteins.

Tailor the warfarin dose to maintain an INR in the range of 2.5-3.5. The risk of serious bleeding (including hemorrhagic stroke) is approximately constant when the INR is 2.5-4.5 but rises dramatically when the INR is over 5. In the United Kingdom, a higher INR target of 3-4 often is recommended.

Evidence suggests that 6 months of anticoagulation reduces the rate of recurrence to half of the recurrence rate observed when only 6 weeks of anticoagulation is given. Long-term anticoagulation is indicated for patients with an irreversible underlying risk factor and recurrent DVT or recurrent pulmonary embolism.

Procoagulant vitamin K–dependent proteins are responsible for a transient hypercoagulable state when warfarin is first started and stopped. This is the phenomenon that occasionally causes warfarin-induced necrosis of large areas of skin or of distal appendages. Heparin is always used to protect against this hypercoagulability when warfarin is started; when warfarin is stopped, however, the problem resurfaces, causing an abrupt, temporary rise in the rate of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

At least 186 different foods and drugs reportedly interact with warfarin. Clinically significant interactions have been verified for a total of 26 common drugs and foods, including 6 antibiotics and 5 cardiac drugs. Every effort should be made to keep the patient adequately anticoagulated at all times, because procoagulant factors recover first when warfarin therapy is inadequate.

Patients who have difficulty maintaining adequate anticoagulation while taking warfarin may be asked to limit their intake of foods that contain vitamin K.

Foods that have moderate to high amounts of vitamin K include Brussels sprouts, kale, green tea, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, liver, soybean oil, soybeans, certain beans, mustard greens, peas (black-eyed peas, split peas, chick peas), turnip greens, parsley, green onions, spinach, and lettuce.

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Fondaparinux sodium (Arixtra)

 

Fondaparinux sodium is a synthetic anticoagulant that works by inhibiting factor Xa, a key component involved in blood clotting. It provides a highly predictable response and has a bioavailability of 100%. The drug has a rapid onset of action and a half-life of 14-16 hours, allowing for sustained antithrombotic activity over a 24-hour period. Fondaparinux sodium does not affect prothrombin time or activated partial thromboplastin time, nor does it affect platelet function or aggregation.

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Thrombolytics

Class Summary

Thrombolysis is indicated for hemodynamically unstable patients with pulmonary embolism. Thrombolysis dramatically improves acute cor pulmonale. Thrombolytic therapy has replaced surgical embolectomy as the treatment for hemodynamically unstable patients with massive pulmonary embolism.

Fibrinolytic regimens currently in common use for pulmonary embolism include 2 forms of recombinant tPA, alteplase and reteplase, along with urokinase and streptokinase. Alteplase usually is given as a front-loaded infusion over 90 or 120 minutes. Urokinase and streptokinase usually are given as infusions over 24 hours or more. Reteplase is a new-generation thrombolytic with a longer half-life; it is given as a single bolus or as 2 boluses administered 30 minutes apart.

Of the 4 drugs, the faster-acting agents reteplase and alteplase are preferred for patients with pulmonary embolism, because the condition of patients with pulmonary embolism can deteriorate extremely rapidly.

Many comparative clinical studies have shown that administration of a 2-hour infusion of alteplase is more effective (and more rapidly effective) than urokinase or streptokinase over a 12-hour period. One prospective, randomized study comparing reteplase and alteplase found that total pulmonary resistance (along with pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac index) improved significantly after just one half hour in the reteplase group as compared with 2 hours in the alteplase group. Fibrinolytic agents do not seem to differ significantly with respect to safety or overall efficacy.

Streptokinase is least desirable of all the fibrinolytic agents because antigenic problems and other adverse reactions force the cessation of therapy in a large number of cases.

Empiric thrombolysis may be indicated in selected hemodynamically unstable patients, particularly when the clinical likelihood of pulmonary embolism is overwhelming and the patient's condition is deteriorating. The overall risk of severe complications from thrombolysis is low and the potential benefit in a deteriorating patient with pulmonary embolism is high. Empiric therapy especially is indicated when a patient is compromised so severely that he or she will not survive long enough to obtain a confirmatory study. Empiric thrombolysis should be reserved, however, for cases that truly meet these definitions, as many other clinical entities (including aortic dissection) may masquerade as pulmonary embolism, yet may not benefit from thrombolysis in any way.

Newborns may be relatively resistant to thrombolytics because of their lack of fibrinogen activity.

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Reteplase (Retavase)

 

Reteplase is a second-generation recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (recombinant tPA) that forms plasmin after facilitating cleavage of endogenous plasminogen. In clinical trials, reteplase has been shown to be comparable to the recombinant tPA alteplase in achieving TIMI, 2 or 3 patency, at 90 minutes. Reteplase is given as a single bolus or as 2 boluses administered 30 minutes apart.

As a fibrinolytic agent, reteplase seems to work faster than its forerunner, alteplase, and may be more effective in patients with larger clot burdens. It has also been reported to be more effective than other agents in lysis of older clots. Two major differences help to explain these improvements. Because reteplase does not bind fibrin as tightly as does alteplase, this allows reteplase drug to diffuse more freely through the clot. Another advantage seems to be that reteplase does not compete with plasminogen for fibrin-binding sites, allowing plasminogen at the site of the clot to be transformed into clot-dissolving plasmin.

The FDA has not approved reteplase for administration to patients with pulmonary embolism. Studies of the drug's use for pulmonary embolism have employed the same dose approved by the FDA for coronary artery fibrinolysis.

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Alteplase (Activase, Cathflo Activase)

 

Alteplase, a recombinant tPA, is used in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute ischemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Alteplase is most often used to treat patients with pulmonary embolism in the ED. It is usually given as a front-loaded infusion over 90-120 minutes. It is FDA approved for this indication. Most ED personnel are familiar with alteplase's use, because it is widely employed in the treatment of patients with AMI. An accelerated 90-minute regimen is widely used, and most believe it is safer and more effective than the approved 2-hour infusion. An accelerated-regimen dose is based on patient weight.

Heparin therapy should be instituted or reinstituted near the end of or immediately following infusion, when the aPTT or thrombin time returns to twice normal or less.

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Urokinase (Abbokinase, Kinlytic)

 

Urokinase is a direct plasminogen activator produced by human fetal kidney cells grown in culture. It acts on the endogenous fibrinolytic system and converts plasminogen to the enzyme plasmin, which, in turn, degrades fibrin clots, fibrinogen, and other plasma proteins. An advantage of urokinase is that it is nonantigenic; however, it is more expensive than streptokinase, which limits its use. When urokinase is used for localized fibrinolysis, it is given as a local, catheter-directed, continuous infusion directly into area of the thrombus with no loading dose. When it is used for pulmonary embolism, a loading dose is necessary.

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Streptokinase (Streptase)

 

Streptokinase acts with plasminogen to convert plasminogen to plasmin. Plasmin degrades fibrin clots, fibrinogen, and other plasma proteins. An increase in fibrinolytic activity that degrades fibrinogen levels for 24-36 hours takes place with IV infusion of streptokinase. The agent is highly antigenic, and it is highly likely that treatment will be interrupted due to allergic drug reactions.

Chills, fever, nausea, and skin rashes are frequent (up to 20%). Blood pressure and heart rate drop in approximately 10% of cases during or shortly after treatment.

Late complications may include purpura, respiratory distress syndrome, serum sickness, Guillain-Barré syndrome, vasculitis, and renal or hepatic dysfunction.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Daniel R Ouellette, MD, FCCP  Associate Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Service, Henry Ford Health System

Daniel R Ouellette, MD, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Gary Setnik, MD  Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital; Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Gary Setnik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association of EMS Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: SironaHealth Salary Management position; South Middlesex EMS Consortium Salary Management position; ProceduresConsult.com Royalty Other

Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP  Professor of Emergency Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy; Attending Faculty, Akron General Medical Center

Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, National Association of EMS Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kavita Garg, MD  Professor, Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Kavita Garg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Thoracic Radiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Judith K Amorosa, MD, FACR  Clinical Professor and Program Director, Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Judith K Amorosa, MD, FACR is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Thoracic Radiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Nader Kamangar, MD, FACP, FCCP, FCCM  Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center; Associate Program Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Multi-Campus Fellowship Program, Cedars-Sinai/West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs/Los Angeles Kaiser Permanente/Olive View-UCLA Medical Center; Site Director, Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship Program, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Nader Kamangar, MD, FACP, FCCP, FCCM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association of Bronchology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, American Thoracic Society, California Thoracic Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sara F Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACEP  Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System; Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Martha Jefferson Hospital

Sara F Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Annie Harrington, MD  Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Annie Harrington, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American College of Chest Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Gregory Tino, MD  Director of Pulmonary Outpatient Practices, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and Hospital

Gregory Tino, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH  Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System

Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Medical Society of Delaware, National Association of EMS Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eugene C Lin, MD  Attending Radiologist, Teaching Coordinator for Cardiac Imaging, Radiology Residency Program, Virginia Mason Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Eugene C Lin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Nuclear Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Zab Mosenifar, MD  Director, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director, Women's Guild Pulmonary Disease Institute, Professor and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Zab Mosenifar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Eric J Stern, MD Professor of Radiology, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Medical Education and Biomedical Informatics, Adjunct Professor of Global Health, Vice-Chair, Academic Affairs, University of Washington School of Medicine

Eric J Stern, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, European Society of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Thoracic Radiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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A large pulmonary artery thrombus in a hospitalized patient who died suddenly.
Pulmonary embolism was identified as the cause of death in a patient who developed shortness of breath while hospitalized for hip joint surgery. This is a close-up view.
Lung infarction secondary to pulmonary embolism occurs rarely.
Posteroanterior and lateral chest radiograph findings are normal, which is the usual finding in patients with pulmonary embolism.
High-probability perfusion lung scan shows segmental perfusion defects in the right upper lobe and subsegmental perfusion defects in right lower lobe, left upper lobe, and left lower lobe.
A normal ventilation scan will make the above-noted defects in Image 5 a mismatch and, hence, a high-probability ventilation-perfusion scan.
Anterior views of perfusion and ventilation scans are shown here. A perfusion defect is present in the left lower lobe, but perfusion to this lobe is intact, making this a high-probability scan.
A segmental ventilation perfusion mismatch evident in a left anterior oblique projection.
A pulmonary angiogram shows the abrupt termination of the ascending branch of the right upper-lobe artery, confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
A chest radiograph with normal findings in a 64-year-old woman who presented with worsening breathlessness.
This perfusion scan shows bilateral perfusion defects. The ventilation scan findings were normal; therefore, these are mismatches, and this is a high-probability scan.
Ultrasonogram shows the thrombus in the distal superficial saphenous vein, which is under the artery.
A lack of respiratory variation in the Doppler waveform of the popliteal vein.
This ultrasound shows the thrombus tip in the superficial femoral vein, with a small amount of flow around it. The color flow deep into the superficial femoral vein is from the profunda femoris vein.
An ultrasound shows the thrombus filling the superficial femoral vein; the noncompressibility further confirms the diagnosis.
A posteroanterior chest radiograph showing a peripheral wedge-shaped infiltrate caused by pulmonary infarction secondary to pulmonary embolism. Hampton hump is a rare and nonspecific finding. Courtesy of Justin Wong, MD.
Computed tomography angiogram in a 53-year-old man with acute pulmonary embolism. This image shows an intraluminal filling defect that occludes the anterior basal segmental artery of the right lower lobe. Also present is an infarction of the corresponding lung, which is indicated by a triangular, pleura-based consolidation (Hampton hump).
Computed tomography angiography in a young man who experienced acute chest pain and shortness of breath after a transcontinental flight. This image demonstrates a clot in the anterior segmental artery in the left upper lung (LA2) and a clot in the anterior segmental artery in the right upper lung (RA2).
Computed tomography angiogram in a 55-year-old man with possible pulmonary embolism. This image was obtained at the level of the lower lobes and shows perivascular segmental enlarged lymph nodes as well as prominent extraluminal soft tissue interposed between the artery and the bronchus.
Computed tomography venograms in a 65-year-old man with possible pulmonary embolism. This image shows acute deep venous thrombosis with intraluminal filling defects in the bilateral superficial femoral veins.
The pathophysiology of pulmonary embolism. Although pulmonary embolism can arise from anywhere in the body, most commonly it arises from the calf veins. The venous thrombi predominately originate in venous valve pockets (inset) and at other sites of presumed venous stasis. To reach the lungs, thromboemboli travel through the right side of the heart. RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle.
A spiral CT scan shows thrombus in bilateral main pulmonary arteries.
CT scan of the same chest depicted in Image 18. Courtesy of Justin Wong, MD.
Longitudinal ultrasound image of partially recanalized thrombus in the femoral vein at mid thigh.
Sequential images demonstrate treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis due to May-Thurner (Cockett) syndrome. Far left, View of the entire pelvis demonstrates iliac occlusion. Middle left, After 12 hours of catheter-directed thrombolysis, an obstruction at the left common iliac vein is evident. Middle right, After 24 hours of thrombolysis, a bandlike obstruction is seen; this is the impression made by the overlying right common iliac artery. Far left, After stent placement, image shows wide patency and rapid flow through the previously obstructed region. Note that the patient is in the prone position in all views. (Right and left are reversed.)
Lower-extremity venogram shows outlining of an acute deep venous thrombosis in the popliteal vein with contrast enhancement.
Lower-extremity venogram shows a nonocclusive chronic thrombus. The superficial femoral vein (lateral vein) has the appearance of 2 parallel veins, when in fact, it is 1 lumen containing a chronic linear thrombus. Although the chronic clot is not obstructive after it recanalizes, it effectively causes the venous valves to adhere in an open position, predisposing the patient to reflux in the involved segment.
Pulmonary embolus.
 
 
 
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