The effect of anticonvulsant drugs on the fibrinolytic activity of tissue plasminogen activator.
OBJECTIVE
Several anticonvulsant drugs have been found to be neuroprotective in preclinical models of stroke, and such drugs may possibly be given in combination with other stroke treatments such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). The goal of this study was to test for potential interactions between rt-PA and selected anticonvulsants.


METHODS
A spectrophotomeric assay was used to monitor the lysis of fibrin clots in the presence of rt-PA and the drugs levetiracetam, valproic acid, phenytoin and phenobarbital.


RESULTS
The drugs tested were found to have no effect on either the rate or total amount of lysis induced by rt-PA.


CONCLUSIONS
Although further studies are required in order to explore the effects of these drugs in stroke patients, the results suggest that co-administration of rt-PA and anticonvulsant drugs may be safe and viable.
Zemke
Daniel
D
Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1376, USA.
Farooq
Muhammad U
MU
Gupta
Rishi
R
Kassab
Mounzer
M
Reeves
Mathew
M
Majid
Arshad
A
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam