Thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator for superior vena cava thrombosis in an infant with sepsis

Superior vena cava syndrome is rare in infants, and rarely responds to conservative treatment. We report a 22-mo-old girl with superior vena cava syndrome due to the use of a central venous line and/or sepsis. Doppler study and computed tomography angiography of the neck showed thrombosis within the superior vena cava and jugular veins. She was admitted to a monitored setting and received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for 2 d. The clinical features of superior vena cava syndrome disappeared completely 3 d after treatment. No complications were observed and radiological investigations showed blood flow through the thrombus after treatment. Systemic recombinant tissue plasminogen activator may be useful in the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome in children.