Prourokinase Therapy in Stroke

Abstract

Local fibrinolytic therapy using interventional neuroradiological techniques give a new chance in therapy in acute stroke [8]. In particular, vertebrobasilar disturbances are important indications [7], Local lysis, however, is often difficult, time-consuming, and needs permanent attention by specially trained staff. Thus the positive results of systemic fibrinolytic therapy in myocardial infarction (e. g., [6]) have resulted in new studies using clot-specific agents, particularly recombinant tissue plasminoge activator (rt-PA) in stroke. Experience gained in treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with prourokinase (PUK), and especially the low incidence of bleeding complications (e. g., [2]), led to the use of PUK in stroke therapy. In this contribution, results from five patients treated with PUK as a clot-specific agent are presented. Target points were the clinical time-course and the monitoring of fibrinolytic effects.