title: Hyperthermic fibrinolysis with rt-PA: in vitro results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of hyperthermia up to 45 degrees C on fibrinolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized fibrin clots were incubated in a water bath for 5 hr with either rt-PA (test group) or 0.9% sodium chloride (control group) and blood plasma at temperatures of 30-45 degrees C. Concentrations of D-dimer and time to complete clot lysis were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activity of fibrinolysis with rt-PA rose with increasing temperature: time to lysis approximately halved from 30 degrees C to 40 degrees C and the concentration of D-dimer tripled. In the control group clot size did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activity of rt-PA-induced fibrinolysis rises distinctly with higher temperatures. Since even healthy subjects show a physiologic decline in body temperature in the extremities, in patients with occlusive arterial disease decreased activity of fibrinolysis with rt-PA can be expected. Controlled hyperthermia may improve fibrinolysis with rt-PA and should be investigated in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Strasse 9, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwarzenberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller-Hülsbeck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brossman
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Glüer
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Bruhn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator