title: Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: Early reperfusion of thrombotically occluded coronary arteries by thrombolytic therapy has become a routine option in initial therapy of acute myocardial infarction. Many efforts have been made to improve the biological properties of thrombolytic agents in terms of fibrin specificity, plasma half-life and resistance to natural plasma inhibitors, to improve adjuvant therapy and to shorten the 'pain to reperfusion' time. Numerous randomised, multicentre trials have analysed the benefit of the various thrombolytic agents and regimens, which has enabled the creation of a 'current standard of therapy'. This review presents an update on available thrombolytic agents, their biochemical and pharmacological properties and results from clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Priglinger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000075202:Contraindications; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents