Observational study of the use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in COVID-19 shows a decrease in physiological dead space. Issue 4 (5th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Orfanos, Sarah; El Husseini, Ibrahim; Nahass, Thomas; Radbel, Jared; Hussain, Sabiha
• Is Part Of: ERJ open research. Volume 6:Issue 4(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10-05
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; Respiration; Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Electronic journals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodical; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00455-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2312-0541

Abstract

In December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged as the causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a clinical syndrome with high incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Part of the pathophysiology of COVID-19-induced ARDS is explained by increased dead space ventilation from pulmonary microthrombi; this is supported by the existence of alveolar capillary microthrombi found on autopsies [1, 2]. This has prompted the use of therapeutic anticoagulation and thrombolytics [3–5]. Thus far, no clinical trials have been completed to evaluate the use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) to treat COVID-19. The objective of this study was to determine whether rt-PA administration decreases dead space ventilation in patients with COVID-19. #COVID19-induced ARDS is partly explained by the presence of microthrombi, motivating the use of thrombolytics. This study shows that thrombolytics decrease dead space ventilation in COVID-19 ARDS patients. https://bit.ly/2GdM44a