Prevention of fibrinolytic shut-down after major surgery by intramuscular stanozolol

The effects of a single pre-operative intramuscular injection of the anabolic steroid stanozolol (Stromba, 50 mg) on fibrinolysis and blood viscosity were evaluated in 14 patients at high risk of post-operative deep venous thrombosis. A control group of 13 high risk patients was also studied. The mean level of plasma plasminogen activator activity decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on the first post-operative day in the control group. In contrast, the fibrinolytic activator activity showed a non-significant rise on the first postoperative day in the stanozolol treated group. The difference in plasminogen activator levels on the first post-operative day between treated and control groups was significant (p < 0.05). Plasma plasminogen levels on the first post-operative day increased from preoperative levels in the treated group (p < 0.01), but not in the control group. The prevention of fibrinolytic shut-down and stimulation of plasminogen levels by a single pre-operative injection suggests that trials of intramuscular stanozolol in the prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis are indicated.