Alteplase: Catheter Directed Thrombolysis for Limb Deep Vein Thrombosis

Who can administer

Important information

  • Patients are under the care of a Consultant Interventional Radiologist (IR) who is available 24/7 to answer questions related to the catheters, drugs etc
  • See also - Attached protocols from Gerard O'Sullivan, Consultant Interventional Radiologist
  • Purpose
    • Thrombolytic agent- tissue plasminogen activator (tPa) Actilyse Alteplase (unlicensed indication)
    • To chemically dissolve thrombus by attacking the fibrin within the thrombus, thereby clearing the affected region of deep venous thrombus
  • For use in thrombolysis (acute MI), acute massive PE, acute ischaemic stroke-see separate monograph
  • For use in PE (low dose for intermediate/high risk)- unlicensed-see separate monograph

Available preparations

  • Actilyse 20mg vial (with 20ml Water for Injection provided)

    • (can use other strengths if 20mg is not available- ie use 2x 10mg instead)

Reconstitution

  • Use 20ml Water for Injection provided

Infusion fluids

  • Use Sodium Chloride 0.9% only
  Dilution Concentration produced
Preferred concentration 20mg added to 480ml infusion fluid 0.04mg per ml
  • Replace bag and giving set every 24 hours (ref 5)
  • Occasionally an alternative dilution may be used (when a larger volume/lower concentration is required)- see under Further Information (option 1)

Dose in adults

  • Administer via catheter as per consultants instructions
  • Dose range is 12.5ml/hour (0.5mg/hour) to 50ml/hour (2mg/hour)
  • Usual rate is 25ml/hour (1mg/hour)
  • In general, two catheters are inserted, one for tPA and one for unfractionated heparin
    • These are labelled appropriately
  • The infusion could be infused for up to five days but generally is infused for 24 to 72 hours
  • A dose reduction may be required for longer infusion durations
  • A separate catheter is required for unfractionated heparin
  • All catheters must be labelled appropriately
  • Alteplase infusions are usually continued for 24 to 72 hours.  When prolonged administration is required, close monitoring of CLAUSS fibrinogen, Hb, platelet count and Creatinine is essential - see under Monitoring below
  • A dose reduction may be required for longer infusion durations
  • Occasionally, a weight based approach may be required- see under Further Information (option 2)

Heparin infusion

  • The patient is also anti-coagulated with unfractionated heparin (patients receive heparin bolus during procedure)
  • Run through side arm of 6F sheath
  • An optimum target APTT is between 55 and 80 is suggested based on a mean average aPTT of 28 in GUH (prescribe on the green Heparin prescription)
  • The mean aPTT is specific to each laboratory, and is reagent and analyser specific. It is also important to look at the patient's baseline APTT. Aim for APTT ratio or 2 to 3 times the patient's or laboratory baseline
  • Note: in certain circumstances, patients may remain on LMWH instead of UFH after discussion with consultant haematologist

Monitoring

Blood tests

  • Inform laboratory that patient is receiving alteplase (tPA) infusion as this interferes with assays
  • Check FBC, PT, APTT, CLAUSS fibrinogen before starting the infusion
  • Recheck above after 4 to 6 hours
  • Then recheck every eight hours for first 24 hours
  • If stable, need to recheck bloods every 12 hours, but this depends on the clinical situation
  • Monitor for bleeding
  • If Hb or CLAUSS fibrinogen falls, more frequent monitoring is required
  • Stop alteplase and heparin infusions if major bleeding
  • Consider halving alteplase rate if Fibrinogin falls precipitously and is less than 1.5g/L
  • Stop alteplase if CLAUSS fibrinogen is less than 1g/L (continue UFH unless bleeding)
  • Consider restarting alteplase at half original rate if CLAUSS fibrinogen is greater than 1g/L as long as no bleeding. Clinical judgement required

What to watch out for: see protocol below

  • Headache: Intracranial bleeding occurs in approximately 2/1000 patients. CT scan is indicated as an emergency for any patient complaining of a new or unusual headache. Call the Interventional Radiologist if in doubt.
  • Low BP: could signal internal bleeding. Approximately 2-4/100 patients. Watch Hb carefully. Appropriate fluid challenge. Call the Interventional Radiologist if in doubt.
  • Increased heart rate:may signal early bleeding

What to expect:

  • Oozing around puncture sites
  • Drop in Hb by 0.5 to 1g/day

What to avoid:

  • Intramuscular injections
  • Arterial puncture/blood gases while on infusion
  • If venous access may be an issue, consider an arterial line prior to starting heparin and tPA infusion

Recommendations:

  • Strict bed rest
  • Regular diet
  • Good analgesia- PCA ideal

Further information

 

Options available

1:Option 1 - Using lower concentration 

  • A lower dilution may be used, on consultant request (when a larger volume/lower concentration is required) (ref 4)
  • If this is required, add one 10mg vial (reconstituted with 10mL Water for Injection) to 1000mL infusion bag (0.01mg/mL)
  • 0.5mg/hour = 50ml/hour 
  • 1mg/hour = 100ml/hour
  • 2mg/hour = 200ml/hour

2: Option 2 - Using a weight based approach

Table 1: Alteplase: Dose in mL/hour using 20mg in 500ml (0.04mg/ml) infusion
Weight 40kg 50kg 60kg 70kg 80kg 90kg 100kg 110kg 120kg
Equates to Alteplase dose per hour 0.4mg 0.5mg 0.6mg 0.7mg 0.8mg 0.9mg 1mg 1mg 1mg
Rate in ml/hour 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 22.5 25 25 25
These are starting doses only based on 0.01mg/kg/hour. May be adjusted according to number of catheters, CLAUSS fibrinogen levels and other patient factors

Storage

Store below 250C

References

1. Guideline prepared in consultation with Dr Ruth Gilmore (Consultant haematologist), Prof Gerry O'Sullivan (Consultant interventional radiologist) , Prof Stephen Kee (Consultant interventional radiologist) and Dr George Rahmani (Radiology Fellow)

2. Actilyse (SPC). 06/2021. Accessed at https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/308#gref on 01/09/2021.

3: Feasibility of low-dose infusion of alteplase for unsuccessful thrombolysis with urokinase in deep venous thrombosis Gong et al, Exp Ther Med. 2019 Nov;18(5):3667-3674..

4: Alteplase: stability and bioactivity after dilution in normal saline solution, J Vasc Interv Radiol . 2003 Jan;14(1):99-102

5: Stability data exists for 24 hour infusion containing 0.01mg/mL. We do not have stability data for the 0.04mg/mL infusion for a 24 hour period- however, anecdotally, this has not caused any issues in use