Low-dose tissue plasminogen activator in the treatment of a massive pulmonary thromboembolism in a colon cancer patient treated with bevacizumab: a case report

Abstract

The current study describes the fibrinolytic treatment of a patient exhibiting an acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism, who was also receiving a bevacizumab-based combination regimen for metastatic colon cancer. The administration of bevacizumab has been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolic events and bleeding in cancer patients. However, there is insufficient data regarding the safety and activity of thrombolytic agents in cancer patients receiving bevacizumab-based therapy. In the present case, despite the increased risk of bleeding, low-dose and prolonged tissue plasminogen activator infusion was effectively and reliably applied to treat a massive pulmonary embolism, which resulted in hemodynamic instability in the patient. © 2014, Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.