Combined thrombolytic therapy for prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis.

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is associated with high mortality. The treatment of choice remains operation. This is a case report of the successful combination therapy of tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase for an isolated thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve in a postpartum patient in whom operation was thought to carry an unacceptable risk. Combined thrombolytic therapy or therapy with a single agent with a long half-life and a prolonged infusion time is suggested as an emergent treatment option for prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis.