dornase alfa + tissue plasminogen activator

A combination therapy regimen consisting of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and dornase alfa (DNase), specifically studied for the treatment of pediatric pleural empyema. This regimen, evaluated in the DTPA Trial led by The Hospital for Sick Children, involves the sequential administration of tPA (a fibrinolytic agent that converts plasminogen to plasmin to break down fibrin clots) and dornase alfa (a recombinant human deoxyribonuclease that reduces fluid viscosity by degrading extracellular DNA from leukocytes). The therapy is administered via a chest tube to facilitate the drainage of infected pleural fluid. Results from the multicenter Canadian trial published in 2020 indicated that while the combination is used to improve drainage, the addition of DNase to tPA did not significantly reduce the hospital length of stay compared to tPA alone in children.

Other names

tPA + DNasetissue plasminogen activator and dornase alfaintrapleural tPA and DNase