Prolonged urokinase infusion for chronic total native coronary occlusions: Clinical, angiographic, and treatment observations

Prolonged intravascular infusion of urokinase has proven beneficial in reestablishing patency of chronically occluded peripheral arteries and saphenous vein grafts. This study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of prolonged urokinase infusions as a prelude to angioplasty in chronically occluded native coronary arteries, that had failed standard angioplasty techniques. Twenty-five patients with objective evidence for ischemia in the distribution of a chronic coronary occlusion were referred for percutaneous intervention. Patients were assessed for any potential exclusions from lytic therapy. Urokinase infusion through both a SOS wire and a stable guiding catheter was continued at 100,00–240,000 units/hr for 8–25 hr; patents then underwent attempted balloon angioplasty. Mean duration of urokinase infusion was 20.6 ± 7.7 hr (total dose 163,000 ± 52,447 units/hr). Fibrinogen levels dropped slightly with this (300 ± 129 to 203 ± 81 mg/dl, P = 0.02). Angiography posturokinase showed improvement in 7 (28%) with regard to coronary flow (± 1 TIMI-grade). Angioplasty was successful in 13 (52%), with final angiographic result revealing thrombus in 5 (20%), or dissection 8 (32%). The infusions were well-tolerated with a low incidence of chest pain, 2 (8%); or ischemic ECG response, 2 (8%); myocardial infarction, 2 (8%); or significant bleeding 2 (8%). All patients survived the procedure, with a length-of-hospital stay = 5.1 ± 4 days. Use of prolonged preangioplasty intracoronary urokinase infusion can be done safely with success in roughly one-half of patients with chronic total native coronary occlusions who have failed prior attempts at percutaneous intervention. A larger more rigorously designed protocol is required to make specific recommendations about technique, cost, and long-term follow-up.