RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Antithrombotic treatment in stable coronary syndromes: long-term intermittent urokinase therapy in end-stage coronary artery disease and refractory angina pectoris.
JF Heart
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 13
OP 17
DO 10.1136/hrt.77.1.13
VO 77
IS 1
A1 F. C. Schoebel
A1 T. W. Jax
A1 Y. Fischer
A1 B. E. Strauer
A1 M. Leschke
YR 1997
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/77/1/13.abstract
AB Interventions that modify lipid metabolism and blood coagulation have been shown to favourably influence the natural course of coronary artery disease in terms of the primary prevention and treatment of acute cardiovascular events. Various findings suggest that such interventions may also preserve and enhance myocardial perfusion in the chronic stage of the disease. Long-term intermittent urokinase therapy was developed for patients with end-stage coronary artery disease and refractory angina pectoris. A dose of 500,000 IU of urokinase given intravenously as a bolus three times a week for of 12 weeks reduced symptoms by 70% and was accompanied by objective improvements in myocardial perfusion and an increase of ergometric exercise capacity. The possible therapeutic mechanisms of long-term intermittent urokinase therapy-improvement of rheological blood properties mediated by fibrinogen reduction, thrombolysis of non-occlusive subclinical thrombi, and regression of atherosclerotic plaques-are discussed in the context of other antithrombotic approaches.