TY - JOUR T1 - Thrombolysis for massive pulmonary embolisms in morbid obesity: a multi-site case control study JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00762-2020 SP - 00762-2020 AU - Chinthaka B Samaranayake AU - Gregory Keir AU - Colm McCabe AU - James Anderson AU - Khoa Tran AU - John W Upham Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2021/01/21/23120541.00762-2020.abstract N2 - Massive or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) confers significant mortality risk, and systemic thrombolysis is widely accepted as the first-line treatment in patients without contraindications [1]. High-risk PE in patients with morbid obesity presents unique challenges concerning initial treatments and interventions; in particular, uncertainty over efficacy of weight-based dose adjustments and bleeding complications with antithrombotic therapy [2]. With increasing prevalence of obesity and its independent association with venous thromboembolism [3], addressing challenges in management in this patient population has become increasingly relevant. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of systemic thrombolysis given for massive PE in morbidly obese patients, compared to a matched cohort of patients with normal body mass index (BMI).FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Dr. Samaranayake has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Keir has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. McCabe has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Anderson has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Tran has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Upham has nothing to disclose. ER -