title: An overview of thrombolytic agents.
abstract: The use of thrombolytic therapy has increased considerably in the past five years, particularly in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The agents that have been used in humans thus far include streptokinase and urokinase, as well as tissue-type plasminogen activator and, most recently, single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator or pro-urokinase. Each of these agents works by very different mechanisms to activate plasminogen and, as a result, to lyse fibrin clots. This article reviews the mechanisms by which pathophysiologic thrombi develop, the pharmacologic agents available to lyse thrombi, and the mechanisms of action of these agents.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Thrombolysis, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loscalzo
mesh_terms: D005342:Fibrinolysis; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010960:Plasminogen Activators