Fibrinolytic treatment by infusion of streptokinase-plasminogen-complex (activator): laboratory effects

144 patients were treated with 50.000 or 100.000 fibrinolytic units (U) activator per hour over a period of up to 5 days. The drug is not yet available but in trial for the time being. We report on a survey of laboratory results in 32 of these patients. The plasminogen content of 100.000 U activator is comparable to the plasminogen content of 29 ml plasma. During activator infusion laboratory findings showed a moderate fall in plasminogen and fibrinogen. Plasmin activity was measurable during the whole period of treatment while antiplasmin was lowered considerably. There was a distinct hypocoagulabilty during activator infusion visible by a prolongation of the thrombin time and aPTT. Interestingly, no measurable activator or streptokinase activities appeared in the plasma during activator infusion. This is in contrast to findings with conventional streptokinase infusion schemes.