Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot in the lungs, usually traveling from leg veins. It affects roughly 1 in 1,000 people each year in the U.S. Treatment centers on blood thinners to prevent new clots, and sometimes clot removal in severe cases. Research now focuses on preventing recurrence, personalizing treatment duration, and refining risk prediction.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban and rivaroxaban at different doses and durations, comparing them to warfarin. Studies examine catheter-directed therapies for massive PE, artificial intelligence tools to predict who needs extended treatment, and ways to identify patients safe to treat at home rather than in the hospital.
Shorter anticoagulation courses
Some trials test whether certain low-risk PE patients can safely stop blood thinners after three months instead of six or indefinitely. This could reduce bleeding risk without increasing clot recurrence.
Catheter-based clot removal
For large clots causing heart strain, devices can break up or suction out the clot through a catheter. Studies are comparing these approaches to blood thinners alone.
Personalized duration
Researchers are developing risk scores using D-dimer levels and imaging to predict who will have another clot. This could guide whether to continue anticoagulation long-term.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on PE severity, presence of cancer or other clotting disorders, recent bleeding, and whether this is a first or recurrent clot.
What types of trials are currently open
- Anticoagulation trials — Comparing different blood thinners or testing shorter versus longer treatment courses to find the safest, most effective approach.
- Intervention trials — Testing catheter devices that remove or dissolve clots in people with severe PE causing heart damage.
- Risk prediction studies — Following PE survivors to identify who develops recurrent clots and who can safely stop treatment early.
- Outpatient management trials — Testing whether selected low-risk PE patients can be treated at home with close monitoring instead of hospital admission.
- Registry studies — Tracking outcomes in large groups of PE patients to understand real-world treatment patterns and long-term effects.
Recently added Pulmonary Embolism trials
Pulsatile Electrical Impedance Tomography for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Acute Pulmonary Embolism
This multicenter observational diagnostic study aims to evaluate pulsatile electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for the diagnosis and monitoring of acute pulmonary embolism. The study includes a retrospective phase and a prospective phase. EIT-derived ventilation-perfusion matching index, dead-space ventilation index, and intrapulmonary shunt index will be compared with CT pulmonary angiography and relevant clinical indicators. The study is designed to assess whether EIT can provide a noninvasive, bedside, radiation-free method for pulmonary embolism diagnosis, risk stratification, and dynamic treatment monitoring.
Thrombectomy in Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot on the lung, which can cause death or significant reduced quality of life. Sucking the clot out with a special tube (catheter) is a relatively new procedure that can be performed but doesn't have the data required to properly support its use in some patients. We know this procedure works in patients who have no other options and would almost certainly die without intervention. We currently don't know how well this procedure is tolerated, how well it works and what its complications are in patients who are moderately to severely unwell. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), an advisory body, suggests more data is required to support its use in patients who are sick or very sick. This registry aims to support this growing evidence base to workout if the treatment is effective and the associated risks that come with using it. We are collecting data about this procedure and other treatments patients get offered to better inform clinicians and researchers.
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