• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.84 no.2
• /
• pp.134-139
• /
• 2021

Background: Intrapleural urokinase is one of the most widely used fibrinolytic agents in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE). However, little research has been performed on the optimal urokinase dosage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficacy of half dose urokinase compared with conventional dose urokinase. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 92 patients with CPPE or empyema who underwent intrapleural urokinase treatment at two tertiary hospitals. Patients received antibiotics, chest tube drainage, and other treatments as part of routine care. The primary outcome was the treatment success rate in the half dose urokinase group (50,000 IU daily for maximal 6 days) and the conventional dose urokinase group (100,000 IU daily). Treatment success was defined as clinical and radiological improvements without surgical treatment or re-admission within one month. Results: Forty-four patients received half dose urokinase, whereas 48 patients were treated with conventional dose urokinase. Both groups were relatively well matched at baseline, excluding higher serum white blood cell count and higher empyema prevalence in the half dose urokinase group. The treatment success rate was not different between the two groups (p=0.048). There were no differences in the rate of in-hospital death and surgical treatment, hospitalization duration, and indwelling catheter duration. In the multivariate analysis, urokinase dose was not a predictor of treatment success. Conclusion: Half dose intrapleural urokinase is equally effective conventional dose urokinase in treating patients with CPPE or empyema.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.7
• /
• pp.660-664
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Pleural effusion is a common complications of pediatric bacterial pneumonia. Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic agents such as urokinase have been used in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions. But the safety and effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase instillations in children has not been confirmed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intraperitoneal urokinase in children. Methods : We reviewed a total of 29 children diagnosed as parapneumonic effusion with septation by chest CT or chest ultrasonography. We divided them into two groups. Fourteen children treated with urokinase after thoracostomy (Group A) were compared with 15 children treated only with thoracostomy (Group B). The urokinase, 3,000 IU/kg/day, was injected into the pleural cavity twice a day. Results : There was no statistical difference in sex and age between the two groups. Total drainage volume during thoracostomy in group A and B was 375.5 mL and 350.0 mL, respectively. It was not statistically significant. But the amounts of pleural fluid of group A on day 1, day 2 and day 3 were 102.5 mL, 100.0 mL, and 70.0 mL respectively and those of group B on day 1, day 2 and say 3 were 120.0 mL, 50.0 mL and 15.0 mL respectively. To compare group A with group B in the amounts of drainage volume on day 1 was not statistically significant, but the amounts of drainage volumes on day 2 and day 3 in group A were statistically more significant than group B (Day 1 P=0.371, Day 2 P=0.049, Day 3 P=0.048, respectively). The duration of fever, antibiotics, thoracostomy and total hospital days. Were not statistically significant between the two groups. But the frequency of complications in Group A was statictically significantly lower than in group B. Conclusion : Intrapleural instillation of urokinase facilitates the drainage of loculated pleural effusions, especially during the first 3 days, and it could reduce complications, such as pleural thickening, surgical managements, re-positioning of tube and re-thoracostomy. So intrapleural urokinase injection was and effective and safe treatment of pleural effusion in children (P=0.014).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.683-692
• /
• 1996

Background: Although most of the patients with tuberculous pleural effusions completely reabsorbed their effusions and became asymptomatic within 2 to 4 months, later surgical procedures such as decortication is needed in some patients because of dyspnea caused by pleural loculations and thickening despite anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. It is obligatory to secure adequate drainage to prevent the development of complications. But, the best methods for treating loculated tuberculous pleural effusions remain debatable. Recent several reports revealed that intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytic agents is an effective adjunct in the management of complicated empyema and may reduce the need of surgery. Purpose : The effects of catheterization with intrapleural urokinase instillation were prospectively evaluated in the patients with septated tuberculous pleural effusion, and compared with other therapeutic effects of different modalities of therapy such as repeated thoracentesis and small-bored catheterization. Methods : Forty-eight patients diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy were randomly separated into three groups; control group(n=13), catheter group(n=12), urokinase group(n=22). In urokinase group, dose of 100.000U urokinase was instilled into the pleural cavity via a percutaneous drainage catheter for complete drainage or total dose of 700,000U of urokinase. After two hours clamping, the catheter was opened and intermittently irrigated. The early and late effectiveness of therapies was assessed by radiographically and by measuring the volume of fluid drained from the catheter. Results : There was statistically significantly better result in the urokinase group in respect of frequency of catheterization, frequency of catheter obstruction and the duration of catheterization in early effectiveness(p < 0.05). There were no difference in radiologic improvement of follow-up in later phase chest X-ray between urokinase group and catheter group in later phase(p > 0.05). But there were more failure rates in control group especially honeycomb septa in pleural effusion sonographically than former two groups. And there were no complications of urokinase such as fever or hemorrhage. Conclusion : In the treatment of septated tuberculous pleurisy, there were better results in urokinase than those of catheterization alone in early effectiveness. And there was no difference in radiographic improvement between urokinase group and catheter group. Intrapleural instillation of urokinase is an effective and safe mode of treatment for septated tuberculous pleural effusions and alleviates the need for thoracotomy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.1214-1222
• /
• 1998

Background : The intrapleural hypofibrinolysis is caused by mainly excessive concentration of pleural plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen(PAI-1 Ag), which binds tissue type plasminogen activator. In pleural inflammation induced by sclerosing agents for pleurodesis, levels of pleural PAI-1 antigen increase in relation to decreasing D-dimer levels. It has been known that the pleural mesothelial cells have the capability of secreting PAI-1 Ag in response to inflammation in vivo. Therefore, we estimated whether pleural inflammation changes the balance between fibrinolytic and coagulative properties in exudative pleural effusions. Method : The thirty cases was included in our study. We determined the pleural levels of glucose, lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), pH and the counts of white blood cell(WBC), polymorpho leukocyte(PMN), lymphocyte as the parameters of pleural inflammation and cellular components of pleural fluid. The plasma level of fibrinogen in fluid and the neutrophil count in blood were determined. The levels of D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag and thrombinantithrombin III complex(TAT) were determined by ELISA(Behring, Marburg, Germany). Result : The causes of pleural effusion were as following : tuberculous in 14 cases, malignant in 10 cases and parapneumonic in 6 cases. The levels of pleural D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag and TAT was significantly higher than that of plasma(p<0..001). The severity of pleural inflammation did not correlated with pleural D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag, TAT and their plasma levels. But the level of pleural TAT correlated with pleural WBC and lymphocyte count. Conclusion : We found that the severity of pleural inflammations did not correlated with pleural D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag, TAT and the possibility of local production of PAI-1 antigen is present.