A pilot study of urokinase therapy in cerebral infarction

Stroke. 1976 Mar-Apr;7(2):135-42. doi: 10.1161/01.str.7.2.135.

Abstract

Thirty-one patients with acute cerebral infarction were treated with the thrombolytic agent urokinase for either a single or a double infusion period, each of ten hours. The effects of urokinase therapy administered at dosage rates of 1,200, 1,500 or 1,700 CTA urokinase units per pound of body weight per hour were followed by serial blood coagulation and other biochemical studies. In the dosage used, urokinase produced a prompt sustained increase, 20-fold to 40-fold, of plasma thrombolytic activity with relatively minor disturbance of the blood coagulation system. Nevertheless, hemorrhagic complications occurred in several patients and distinctly favorable therapeutic effects were not observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Brain / blood supply*
  • Endopeptidases / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Infarction / blood
  • Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Plasminogen / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / administration & dosage
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / adverse effects
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Fibrinogen
  • Plasminogen
  • Endopeptidases
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator