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thrombolytic therapy |
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Thrombolytic Therapy DefinitionThrombolytic therapy is the use of drugs that dissolve blood clots. PurposeWhen a blood clot forms in a blood vessel, it may cut off or severely reduce blood flow to parts of the body that are served by that blood vessel. This can cause serious damage to those parts of the body. If the clot forms in an artery that supplies blood to the heart, for example, it can cause a heart attack. A clot that cuts off blood to the brain can cause a stroke. Thrombolytic therapy is used to dissolve blood clots that could cause serious, and possibly life-threatening, damage if they are not removed. Research suggests that when used to treat stroke, thrombolytic therapy can prevent or reverse paralysis and other problems that otherwise might result. Thrombolytic therapy also is used to dissolve blood clots that form in tubes put into people's bodies for medical treatments, such as dialysis or chemotherapy. DescriptionThrombolytic therapy uses drugs called thrombolytic agents, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), streptokinase (Streptase, Kabikinase), urokinase (Abbokinase), and tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) to dissolve clots. These drugs are given as injections, only under a physician's supervision. Recommended dosageThe physician supervising thrombolytic therapy decides on the proper dose for each patient. He or she will take into account the type of drug, the purpose for which it is being used, and in some cases, the patient's weight. PrecautionsFor thrombolytic therapy to be effective in treating stroke or heart attack, prompt medical attention is very important. The drugs must be given within a few hours of the beginning of a stroke or heart attack. However, this treatment is not right for every patient who has a heart attack or a stroke. Only a qualified medical professional can decide whether a thrombolytic agent should be used. To increase the chance of survival and reduce the risk of serious, permanent damage, anyone who has signs of a heart attack or stroke should get immediate medical help. Thrombolytic therapy may cause bleeding. Usually this is not serious, but severe bleeding does occur in some people. This is especially likely in older people. To lower the risk of serious bleeding, people who are given this drug should move around as little as possible and should not try to get up on their own unless told to do so by a health care professional. Following all the instructions of the health care providers in charge is very important. Thrombolytic therapy may be more likely to cause serious bleeding in people who have certain medical conditions or have recently had certain medical procedures. Before being given a thrombolytic agent, anyone with any of these problems or conditions should tell the physician in charge about it:
In addition, anyone who has had a recent streptococcal (strep) infection should tell the physician in charge. Some thrombolytic agents may not work properly in people who have just had a strep infection, so the physician may want to use a different drug. People who take certain medicines may be at greater risk for severe bleeding when they are given a thrombolytic agent. Women who are pregnant should tell the physician in charge before being given a thrombolytic agent. There is a slight chance that a woman who is given thrombolytic therapy during the first five months of pregnancy will have a miscarriage. However, streptokinase and urokinase have both been used without problems in pregnant women. After being treated with thrombolytic therapy, women who are breastfeeding should check with their physicians before starting to breastfeed again. Side effectsAnyone who has fever or who notices bleeding or oozing from their gums, from cuts, or from the site where the thrombolytic agent was injected should immediately tell their health care provider. People who are given thrombolytic therapy should also be alert to the signs of bleeding inside the body and should check with a physician immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:
Other side effects of thrombolytic agents are possible. Anyone who has unusual symptoms during or after thrombolytic therapy should tell a health care professional. InteractionsPeople who take certain medicines may be at greater risk for severe bleeding when they receive a thrombolytic agent. Anyone who is given a thrombolytic agent should tell the physician in charge about all other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines he or she is taking. Among the medicines that may increase the chance of bleeding are:
Key termsArteries — Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the cells, tissues, and organs of the body. Blood clot — A hard mass that forms when blood gels. Chemotherapy — Treatment of an illness with chemical agents. The term is usually used to describe the treatment of cancer with drugs. Dialysis — A process used in people whose kidneys are not working well. By way of a filtering machine, dialysis separates waste and other useless materials from the blood—a job the kidneys usually do. Paralysis — Loss of the ability to move one or more parts of the body. Stroke — A serious medical event in which blood flow to the brain is stopped. This may be because of a blood clot in an artery or because an artery has burst. Strokes may cause paralysis and changes in speech, memory, and behavior. Also, anyone who has been treated with anistreplase or streptokinase within the past year should tell the physician in charge. These drugs may not work properly if they are given again, so the physician may want to use a different thrombolytic agent. therapy /ther·a·py/ (-pe) the treatment of disease; see also treatment. ablation therapy the destruction of small areas of myocardial tissue, usually by application of electrical or chemical energy, in the treatment of some tachyarrhythmias. adjuvant therapy the use of chemotherapy or radiotherapy in addition to surgical resection in the treatment of cancer. antiplatelet therapy the use of platelet-modifying agents to inhibit platelet adhesion or aggregation and so prevent thrombosis, alter the course of atherosclerosis, or prolong vascular graft patency. art therapy the use of art, the creative process, and patient response to the products created for the treatment of psychiatric and psychologic conditions and for rehabilitation. aversion therapy , aversive therapy that using aversive conditioning to reduce or eliminate undesirable behavior or symptoms; sometimes used synonymously with aversive conditioning. behavior therapy a therapeutic approach that focuses on modifying the patient's observable behavior, rather than on the conflicts and unconscious processes presumed to underlie the behavior. biological therapy treatment of disease by injection of substances that produce a biological reaction in the organism. chelation therapy the use of a chelating agent to remove toxic metals from the body, used in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. In complementary medicine, also used for the treatment of atherosclerosis and other disorders. cognitive therapy , cognitive-behavioral therapy that based on the theory that emotional problems result from distorted attitudes and ways of thinking that can be corrected, the therapist guiding the patient to do so. convulsive therapy treatment of mental disorders, primarily depression, by induction of convulsions; now it is virtually always by electric shock (electroconvulsive t.) . couples therapy marital t. dance therapy the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual in the treatment of a variety of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical disorders. electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) a treatment for mental disorders, primarily depression, in which convulsions and loss of consciousness are induced by application of brief pulses of low-voltage alternating current to the brain via scalp electrodes. electroshock therapy (EST) electroconvulsive t. endocrine therapy treatment of disease by the use of hormones. estrogen replacement therapy administration of an estrogen to treat estrogen deficiency, as that following menopause; in women with a uterus, a progestational agent is usually included to prevent endometrial hyperplasia. enzyme therapy in complementary medicine, the oral administration of proteolytic enzymes to improve immune system function; used for a wide variety of disorders and as adjunctive therapy in cancer treatment. family therapy group therapy of the members of a family, exploring and improving family relationships and processes and thus the mental health of the collective unit and of individual members. fibrinolytic therapy the use of fibrinolytic agents (e.g., prourokinase) to lyse thrombi in patients with acute peripheral arterial occlusion, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or acute myocardial infarction. gene therapy manipulation of the genome of an individual to prevent, mask, or lessen the effects of a genetic disorder. group therapy psychotherapy carried out regularly with a group of patients under the guidance of a group leader, usually a therapist. highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) the aggressive use of extremely potent antiretroviral agents in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection. hormonal therapy , hormone therapy endocrine t. hormone replacement therapy the administration of hormones to correct a deficiency, such as postmenopausal estrogen replacement ttherapy. immunosuppressive therapy treatment with agents, such as x-rays, corticosteroids, or cytotoxic chemicals, that suppress the immune response to antigen(s); used in conditions such as organ transplantation, autoimmune disease, allergy, multiple myeloma, and chronic nephritis. inhalation therapy former name for respiratory care (2). light therapy 1. phototherapy (def. 1). marital therapy a type of family therapy aimed at understanding and treating one or both members of a couple in the context of a distressed relationship, but not necessarily addressing the discordant relationship itself; sometimes used more restrictively as a synonym of marriage therapy . marriage therapy a subset of marital therapy (q.v.) that focuses specifically on the bond of marriage between two people, enhancing and preserving it. massage therapy the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing them, thereby enhancing health and healing. milieu therapy treatment, usually in a psychiatric hospital, that emphasizes the provision of an environment and activities appropriate to the patient's emotional and interpersonal needs. music therapy the use of music to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems. occupational therapy the therapeutic use of self-care, work, and play activities to increase function, enhance development, and prevent disabilities. oral rehydration therapy (ORT) oral administration of a solution of electrolytes and carbohydrates in the treatment of dehydration. orthomolecular therapy treatment of disease based on the theory that restoration of optimal concentrations of substances normally present in the body, such as vitamins, trace elements, and amino acids, will effect a cure. photodynamic therapy intravenous administration of hematoporphyrin derivative, which concentrates selectively in metabolically active tumor tissue, followed by exposure of the tumor tissue to red laser light to produce cytotoxic free radicals that destroy hematoporphyrin-containing tissue. physical therapy 1. treatment by physical means. 2. the health profession concerned with the promotion of health, the prevention of disability, and the evaluation and rehabilitation of patients disabled by pain, disease, or injury, and with treatment by physical therapeutic measures as opposed to medical, surgical, or radiologic measures. poetry therapy a form of bibliotherapy in which a selected poem, which may be created by the patient, is used to evoke feelings and responses for discussion in a therapeutic setting. PUVA therapy a form of photochemotherapy for skin disorders such as psoriasis and vitiligo; oral psoralen administration is followed two hours later by exposure to ultraviolet light. radiation therapy radiotherapy. relaxation therapy any of a number of techniques for inducing the relaxation response, used for the reduction of stress; useful in the management of a wide variety of chronic illnesses caused or exacerbated by stress. replacement therapy 1. treatment to replace deficiencies in body products by administration of natural or synthetic substitutes. 2. treatment that replaces or compensates for a nonfunctioning organ, e.g., hemodialysis. respiratory therapy see under care. substitution therapy the administration of a hormone to compensate for glandular deficiency. thrombolytic therapy fibrinolytic t. thyroid replacement therapy treatment with a preparation of a thyroid hormone. thrombolytic therapy (TT), administration of a thrombolytic agent such as tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase, or streptokinase to dissolve an arterial clot, such as a clot in a coronary artery in a patient with an acute myocardial infarction. TT is also used to dissolve clots (thrombi) in venous access devices. thrombolytic therapy Cardiology Any therapy, especially, enzymatic, that dissolves intravascular blood clots and/or fibrin thrombi, digests fibrinogen and other proteins, and recanalizes occluded vessels–usually arteries, to improve
circulation; in acute MI, TT is most effective if given at time of Sx onset, if the Pt is stabilized and diagnosis of Q-wave MI is strongly suspected Agents Urokinase, streptokinase, acylated plasminogen streptokinase complex–APSAC,
pro-urokinase, tPA Indications PTE, DVT, AMI, peripheral artery disease with intraarterial thrombi How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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thrombokinase thrombokinetics thrombokinin thrombolymphangitis thrombolysis thrombolytic thrombolytic agent thrombolytic therapy thrombolytic therapy management Thrombolytics thrombomodulin thrombon thrombopathia thrombopathy thrombopenia |
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