[Thrombosis of mechanical tricuspid valve prosthesis: treatment by tissue-type plasminogen activator. Success after a 18 month-follow-up].

Four years after a triple valve replacement, a 51 year old woman presented with signs of thrombosis of her tricuspid Saint Jude valve prosthesis, confirmed at echocardiography and fluoroscopy. Treatment with tissue-type plasminogen activator was completely successful with a result which was sustained at 18 months. A review of the literature confirms the superiority of thrombolytic therapy of first intention in the treatment of thrombosis of tricuspid mechanical prosthetic valves.