Dissolution of thrombi by tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase and streptokinase in an artificial circulating system
Mattsson, C.; Nyberg-Arrhenius, V.; Wallén, P.
Thrombosis Research 21(6): 535-545
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-3848 PMID: 7022741 Document Number: 168512
The ability of porcine tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase and streptokinase to dissolve whole blood clots was compared in an artificial circulating system, the Chandler loop. On a molar basis the tissue activator was more effective in lysing both partially and totally crosslinked thrombi than urokinase or streptokinase. The latter drugs required 30-50 times higher concentrations to achieve a fibrinolytic response, similar to that of tissue activator. As demonstrated by analysis of fibrinogen .alpha.2- antiplasmin and plasmin-.alpha.2-antiplasmin complex, there was no activation of plasminogen in plasma by the tissue activator in the absence of fibrin. Both urokinase and streptokinase under the same conditions gave rise to a significant dose dependent fibrinogenolysis. In the presence of fibrin, tissue activator induced a weak fibrinogenolysis (about 20%) in plasma. Both urokinase and streptokinase caused a much higher degree of fibrinogenolysis (50 and 60%, respectively).