Lumbrokinase for Blood Clots: Does It Help?

observational-study PMID: 29093246

Quick Summary: Research suggests that adding lumbrokinase to standard blood clot treatment may help patients recover faster from pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), a type of blood clot in the lungs. The study showed improvements in heart function and blood clot markers.

What The Research Found

This study looked at how lumbrokinase affects people with blood clots in their lungs. Researchers found that patients who took lumbrokinase along with their regular medication had:

Better heart function: Their hearts worked more efficiently.

Lower levels of a heart failure marker: This means less stress on the heart.

Faster improvement in blood clot markers: Their bodies cleared the clots more quickly.

Study Details

Who was studied: 60 patients in China with blood clots in their lungs.

How long: The study followed patients for about a month.

What they took: Half the patients received lumbrokinase along with standard blood clot medication (blood thinners). The other half received only the standard medication.

What This Means For You

If you have blood clots in your lungs, this research suggests that lumbrokinase might help you recover faster. However, it's important to remember:

Talk to your doctor: Don't start taking lumbrokinase without talking to your doctor first. It was used in this study alongside standard treatments, not instead of them.

More research is needed: This study was relatively small, and more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Study Limitations

Small study: Only 60 people were involved, so the results might not apply to everyone.

Not a perfect study: The study wasn't designed to be the most rigorous type of research.

No dosage details: The exact dose of lumbrokinase used wasn't specified.

Short follow-up: The study only looked at patients for a month, so we don't know the long-term effects.

Key Findings

This study found that adding lumbrokinase to standard anticoagulant therapy (low molecular weight heparin followed by warfarin) significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with acute moderate-risk pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Key benefits included greater reductions in right ventricular strain markers (e.g., right/left ventricle short-axis ratio, systolic pulmonary artery pressure), lower NT-proBNP levels (a biomarker for heart failure), and faster normalization of D-dimer levels compared to the control group. Oxygenation (PO2) improved in both groups, but lumbrokinase showed superior efficacy in structural and hemodynamic parameters.

Study Design

This was a retrospective observational study analyzing 60 patients with acute moderate-risk PTE treated at Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital between 2010–2015. Participants were divided into a lumbrokinase group (n=30) receiving lumbrokinase + low molecular weight heparin/warfarin and a control group (n=30) receiving standard anticoagulation alone. Outcomes were assessed at 10, 20, and 30 days post-treatment.

Dosage & Administration

The study protocol included lumbrokinase combined with low molecular weight heparin (initial phase) followed by sequential warfarin. However, the exact dosage of lumbrokinase was not specified in the provided summary. Administration details (e.g., route, frequency) were also omitted.

Results & Efficacy

Structural improvements: Right ventricular maximum short-axis diameter, right/left ventricle ratio, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and main pulmonary artery diameter improved significantly in the lumbrokinase group at 10, 20, and 30 days (P<0.05 vs. control).
Biomarkers: NT-proBNP levels decreased more in the lumbrokinase group at all time points (P<0.05). D-dimer levels initially spiked at 10 days but dropped significantly by 20–30 days in both groups, with greater reductions in the lumbrokinase group (P<0.05).
Oxygenation: PO2 increased significantly in both groups after 10 days, but no difference emerged between 20 and 30 days (P>0.05).
Clinical efficacy: The lumbrokinase group showed superior overall efficacy (P<0.05), though specific metrics (e.g., symptom resolution rates) were not quantified in the summary.

Limitations

Observational design: Retrospective analysis introduces selection bias and confounding variables (e.g., unmeasured comorbidities).
Small sample size: Only 60 patients (30 per group) limit statistical power.
Lack of placebo control: The absence of a placebo group prevents definitive conclusions about lumbrokinase’s isolated effects.
Short follow-up: Outcomes were tracked for 30 days, leaving long-term safety and efficacy unknown.
No dosage details: The lack of specified lumbrokinase dosing hinders reproducibility and clinical application.

Clinical Relevance

For patients with acute moderate-risk PTE, lumbrokinase combined with standard anticoagulation may enhance recovery by reducing right ventricular strain and improving hemodynamic stability. However, the study’s observational nature and small size necessitate further validation via randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Supplement users should not self-administer lumbrokinase for PTE without medical supervision, as it was used adjunctively with prescription anticoagulants. The findings support potential utility in clinical settings but do not establish standalone efficacy or optimal dosing.

Note: The study population was Chinese adults (ages unspecified), so results may not generalize to other demographics. Safety outcomes (e.g., bleeding risk) were not detailed in the summary.