title: Platelets in fibrinolytic system.
abstract: Platelets play a vital role in mediating the activity of plasma fibrinolytic system. They have both the potential to inhibit as well as to activate fibrinolysis. Just as platelet can affect thrombolysis, thrombolytic agents can have reciprocal effects on platelet function. Accumulating evidence indicates that thrombolysis induced both by streptokinase and t-PA results in rapid activation of platelets, the phenomenon being possibly responsible for reocclusion of arteries after successful thrombolysis. However, caution is required in comparing the results of the various studies because of differences in the thrombotic models employed, with the major variables being the mechanism of thrombus formation (in vivo or in vitro), the platelet concentrations and the doses of investigated agent. Various studies indicate that adjunctive therapy with anti-platelet agents, such as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, inhibitors of thromboxane A2-synthase and activators of platelet cyclic-AMP or -GMP may lower the dose of the thrombolytic agent required to attain reperfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korbut
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gryglewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents