Thrombolytic agents for arterial and venous thromboses in neonates.

BACKGROUND

Clinically symptomatic thromboses are infrequent but serious complications in infants undergoing intensive care. Most are related to central vascular catheters. Symptomatic thrombosis may cause severe morbidity due to irreversible organ damage and also loss of limbs.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of thrombolytic agents in neonatal arterial and venous thromboses.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966 to January 2004), EMBASE (January 1980 to January 2004), and CINAHL (January 1982 to January 2004). We also contacted authors of appropriate review articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and quasi RCT comparing thrombolytic agents with either heparin or observation in neonates with symptomatic neonatal arterial and venous thromboses were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently searched for eligible trials. No eligible studies were found even after contacting authors of review articles for details of any unpublished trials.

MAIN RESULTS

No randomised controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-RCT were found.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: No conclusions could be made as no eligible studies were found. It is time that a randomised controlled trial was performed comparing thrombolytic therapy to heparin therapy to aid neonatologists in the treatment of arterial and venous thromboses.