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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Risks Of Taking Alteplase While On Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer?

I am currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. It is administered via an implanted port. Today when it was accessed they could not draw blood for my lab work. The oncology staff injected Alteplase to clear my port. From what i have read Alteplase is for strokes and heart problems to disolve blood clots. What are the risks of using Alteplase?
Wed, 28 Oct 2015
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.

No major risks for using alteplase as it is a tissue plasminogen activator and thus acts by dissolving clots and it used as a anti-coagulant in cases of strokes and myocardial infarction to remove or dissolve the clot already formed.

It has fewer important side effects like bleeding (Internal bleeding, involving intracranial and retroperitoneal sites, or the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or respiratory tracts)

Superficial or surface bleeding, observed mainly at invaded or disturbed sites (e.g., venous cutdowns, arterial punctures, sites of recent surgical intervention).

But all these bleeding occurs on high dose and not at a usual dose as it has been used at dissolving blood clot at vein.

You need not to worry much but yes,it's repeated use must be avoided rather low molecular weight heparin (LMWx) would be more useful in the treatment of vein clot.

Consult your family physician for complete advise.

Regards,
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What Are The Risks Of Taking Alteplase While On Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer?

Hello, Welcome to HCM. No major risks for using alteplase as it is a tissue plasminogen activator and thus acts by dissolving clots and it used as a anti-coagulant in cases of strokes and myocardial infarction to remove or dissolve the clot already formed. It has fewer important side effects like bleeding (Internal bleeding, involving intracranial and retroperitoneal sites, or the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or respiratory tracts) Superficial or surface bleeding, observed mainly at invaded or disturbed sites (e.g., venous cutdowns, arterial punctures, sites of recent surgical intervention). But all these bleeding occurs on high dose and not at a usual dose as it has been used at dissolving blood clot at vein. You need not to worry much but yes,it s repeated use must be avoided rather low molecular weight heparin (LMWx) would be more useful in the treatment of vein clot. Consult your family physician for complete advise. Regards,