Ultrasound, drug combo treats pulmonary embolism in less time with fewer drugs

When venous clots break off and travel through a patient’s circulatory system, they can become trapped in the lung and block blood flow. This strains the heart’s ability to pump blood through the lungs and can ultimately lead to heart failure.

Traditionally, patients with pulmonary embolisms are treated overnight with systemic infusions of tissue plasminogen activator.

But, according to Dr. Victor Tapson at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, large doses of tPA are associated with side effects including intracranial bleeding and smaller doses can be safer and just as effective as the larger, conventional doses.

Data from BTG‘s (LON:BTG) Optalyse PE trial showed that the company’s drug-device combination can effectively treat pulmonary embolism with a smaller dose of drugs and in less time than the standard of care.

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

The post Ultrasound, drug combo treats pulmonary embolism in less time with fewer drugs appeared first on MassDevice.

from MassDevice http://ift.tt/2qTdqm5