title: A comparison of the thrombolytic and hemorrhagic effects of tissue-type plasminogen activator and streptokinase in rabbits.
abstract: Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a promising thrombolytic agent because it can produce thrombolysis without inducing a plasma proteolytic state. It is uncertain if this potentially important feature renders t-PA less hemorrhagic than other plasminogen activators. We have compared the hemorrhagic and thrombolytic effects of t-PA and streptokinase in rabbits. Streptokinase, 4000 U/kg/hr over 4 hr, failed to produce significant thrombolysis and 8000 U/kg/hr streptokinase over 4 hr produced only 28 +/- 6% thrombolysis. Both streptokinase regimens were associated with a plasmin-mediated plasma proteolytic state and both streptokinase regimens produced a significant increase in hemorrhage that was evident within 15 min of beginning the infusion and was progressive over the 4 hr of drug administration. In contrast, t-PA in a dose of 7500 U/kg/hr produced 35 +/- 6% thrombolysis, but it did not produce a plasmin-mediated plasma proteolytic state or a significant increase in hemorrhage over the 4 hr of infusion. t-PA in a dose of 15,000 U/kg/hr produced 85 +/- 4% thrombolysis but was associated with a plasmin-mediated proteolytic state and produced significant bleeding which, in contrast to streptokinase-induced bleeding, was delayed in onset. Therefore, t-PA induced less hemorrhage than streptokinase at doses that produced more effective thrombolysis. Bleeding with both thrombolytic agents was associated with a plasmin-mediated proteolytic state.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013918:Thrombin Time; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000628:therapy*; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin; D013300:Streptokinase; D010960:Plasminogen Activators