Successful Thrombolysis of an Obstructive Prosthetic Mitral Valve Thrombosis Using Alteplase

A 48-year-old man with a history of mitral valve replacement (MVR) in March 2019 for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and ischemic stroke in August 2019 presented with a history of sudden onset angina of 6 hours duration. He admits to defaulting oral anticoagulant (OAC) intake for the last 50 days. On arrival, he had atrial fibrillation with hemodynamic instability [blood pressure (BP) 70/40 mm Hg, saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) 80% at room air and heart rate approx 140/minute], which was managed with intravenous diltiazem and hemodynamic stability achieved (BP 116/72 mm Hg, heart rate 86/minute). Urgent transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and fluoroscopy confirmed obstructive prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis. Though available recommendations suggest surgical intervention for the left-sided valve involvement in a stable patient, in view of the nonavailability of a surgical facility, the patient was thrombolyzed with Alteplase, a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Since the patient was stable, a "long fibrinolytic protocol" of Alteplase 10 mg bolus, 50 mg during the 1st hour, and 20 mg each during the 2nd and 3rd hour (total of 100 mg) was given. Subsequent TTE revealed a mean gradient of 5 mm Hg, and cine fluoroscopy showed improved mitral valve motion, thereby indicating successful thrombolysis. The patient felt symptomatically relieved within 6 hours and is presently on OAC therapy with strict drug compliance.