OBJECTIVE The endothelium-derived fibrinolytic factor tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a major determinant of vessel patency after coronary plaque rupture and thrombosis. We assessed whether endothelial fibrinolytic capacity predicts atherothrombotic events in patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS Plasma t-PA and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 concentrations...

STUDY OBJECTIVES Although in situ thrombosis is a prominent finding in lung vessels from patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, to our knowledge, plasma coagulation factors that might contribute to a hypercoagulable state have not been fully investigated. We hypothesized that the local coagulation environment in the lung vasculature is important to progression if not initia...

In order to study the fibrinolytic activity of vein walls in smokers and nonsmokers, 71 randomly selected heavy smokers, i.e., smoking more than 15 g tobacco per day, and 41 nonsmokers from the population group "Men born in 1914 residing in Malmo" were invited to undergo a health examination. When examined after 12 hours' abstention from tobacco, the smokers were found to have the same fibrinol...

Fibrinolytic activity, using euglobulin lysis time (ELT), was assessed in 46 Nigerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus to study the effect of the disease on fibrinolytic component of haemostasis. There were 20 females and 26 males. Fifty age matched non-diabetics and apparently healthy Nigerians were similarly studied as controls; there were 24 females and 26 males. In the patients, the mean (SD)...

This book describes the fibrinolytic enzymes of microbial origin that are able to dissolve endogenous thrombi in vivo. The fibrinolytic enzyme streptokinase for example, is produced by b-hemolytic streptococci and exerts its enzyme action indirectly by activating plasminogen. On the other hand, staphylokinase is produced by Staphylococcus aureus by stoichiometric complexation with plasmin(ogen)...

Fibrinogen and fibrin are molecules with overlapping roles in blood clotting, fibrinolysis, wound healing, inflammation, matrix and cellular interactions and neoplasia. There is currently much interest in the possible use of fibrinolytic agents in human therapeutics. In this study, we report the presence of fibrinolytic activities in shark cartilage extract (SCE). In vitro, SCE at 100 microg/ml...

Pneumonia and parapneumonic complicated effusion during pregnancy is uncommon but poses potentially serious risks to both mother and fetus. Enzymatic debridement of the pleural cavity with fibrinolytic agents is a noninvasive option that can facilitate drainage and prevent the need for surgery. Herein, we describe the cases of two pregnant women with parapneumonic empyema who were successfully ...

BACKGROUND Randomized controlled trials have shown conflicting findings about the role of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy for the treatment of empyema and complicated parapneumonic effusions in adult patients. OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical efficacy and summarize the current evidence of intrapleural fibrinolytic use in patients with empyema and complicated parapneumonic effusions in adul...