[Thrombolysis of cerebral thromboembolism by urokinase in an animal model]. / Untersuchungen zur Thrombolyse zerebraler Thrombembolien mittels Urokinase an einem Tiermodell.

ABSTRACT

The majority of ischemic cerebral insults are caused by thromboembolism. In animal experiments we have investigated the possibility of reperfusing ischemically damaged brain tissue by thrombolysis of cerebral emboli. 1, 3 and 5 hours after cerebral infarction due to thromboembolism, thrombolytic treatment with urokinase (1000 IU/kg/min) was started. Thrombolysis, monitored by angiography, was successful in all cases (n = 15). In all cases the fall in fibrinogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin and plasminogen reflected systemic fibrinolytic effects. Anatomo-pathologic investigation of the brains revealed no intracerebral bleeding complications. The results of the study suggest a favourable effect of urokinase on acute ischemic cerebral infarction.