Thrombolysis: the logical approach for the treatment of vascular occlusions.
Thrombotic and thromboembolic occlusions of arteries and veins represent acute and often life threatening complications requiring immediate therapeutic intervention. The most important clinical manifestations of vascular occlusions are myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial occlusion, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and ischemic stroke. The logical approach for the treatment in these indications is the early restoration of blood circulation in order to preserve the organ deprived from oxygen supply and to prevent chronic sequelae. Recanalization by surgical intervention is only possible in some indications and is restricted to special clinics. Thrombolysis induced by agents activating plasminogen imitates the physiologic way of dissolving an occlusive clot by shifting the balance of the hemostatic and fibrinolytic system towards fibrinolysis. Streptokinase was the first effective thrombolytic drug used in patients. In the first years of its usage the identification of the appropriate indication and the dosage and application regimens used were based on little pharmacological knowledge and lack of appropriate dose finding. This resulted in suboptimal therapeutic efficacy and severe bleeding. Development of advanced diagnostic methods, more appropriate dose and application regimens and the development of more specific fibrinolytic drugs like rt-PA led to a remarkable improvement of its benefit-risk ratio and made thrombolysis to a widely accepted form of therapy in thrombotic and thromboembolic diseases. Early restoration of blood flow however is only the starting point of a therapeutic strategy, aiming at minimizing the risk of recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy