Streptokinase

Streptokinase is a medication used to treat blood clots. It is a type of thrombolytic medicine, which means it works to break up blood clots. It is often used to treat heart attacks and pulmonary embolism. Streptokinase is delivered as an intravenous (IV) injection. It works by dissolving the clot, which helps restore blood flow.

Streptokinase is a medication used to treat blood clots in certain situations. Here's a breakdown of its key features:

Function:

• Streptokinase is a thrombolytic drug. This means it works by dissolving blood clots [1].

Mechanism of Action:

• It achieves this by activating the body's plasminogen system, which naturally breaks down blood clots. Streptokinase converts plasminogen, an inactive enzyme, into plasmin, the active enzyme responsible for clot breakdown [1].

Applications:

• Streptokinase is primarily used to treat two conditions caused by blood clots:
  • Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack): It can help dissolve clots in coronary arteries, potentially improving blood flow to the heart muscle and reducing damage [1, 2].
  • Pulmonary embolism (PE): A blood clot lodged in a lung artery. Streptokinase can help break down the clot and restore blood flow to the lungs [1].

Important Considerations:

• Streptokinase is not always the first-choice treatment for blood clots. Other thrombolytic medications like alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator, tPA) might be preferred due to several factors [2, 3]:
  • Specificity: Alteplase is more clot-specific in its action, minimizing the risk of bleeding complications compared to streptokinase.
  • Allergic reactions: Streptokinase can cause allergic reactions, which are less common with alteplase.

Side Effects:

• Streptokinase can cause side effects, including [1, 2]:
  • Bleeding complications (major risk)
  • Allergic reactions
  • Low blood pressure
  • Fever

Not for Everyone:

• Streptokinase is not suitable for everyone due to the bleeding risk. It's contraindicated in people with certain medical conditions, such as:
  • Recent stroke or head injury
  • Active bleeding
  • High blood pressure
  • History of allergic reactions to streptokinase