Increase in plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 in acute stroke patients with thrombolysis failure.
OBJECTIVE
Platelet-rich thrombi are resistant to thrombolytics. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in platelet aggregation and contribute to thrombolysis failure in stroke patients.


METHODS
Plasma samples from 23 stroke patients who had received thrombolytics and from 47 healthy volunteers were examined for MMP-2 and MMP-9 by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and zymography.


RESULTS
The arteries were recanalized in 15 patients but not in the other 8. The MMP-9 plasma level was significantly higher in patients whose arteries were not recanalized.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-9 may be associated with the formation of a thrombolytics-resistant thrombus.
Department of Neurology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jhheo@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Ji Hoe
JH
Heo
Seo Hyun
SH
Kim
Kyung Yul
KY
Lee
Eun Hee
EH
Kim
Chong Kyu
CK
Chu
Jeong Mo
JM
Nam
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000628:therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9