Streptokinase

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Streptokinase
Systematic (IUPAC) name
Streptococci streptokinase
Identifiers
CAS number	9002-01-1
ATC code	B01AD01 B06 AA55
PubChem	?
DrugBank	BTD00028
Chemical data
Formula	C₂₁₀₀H₃₂₇₈N₅₆₆O₆₆₉S₄
Mol. mass	47286.7 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	6 hours
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	Legal in most countries
Routes	IV

Streptokinase is an extracellular metallo-enzyme produced by beta-haemolytic streptococcus and is used as an effective and cheap clot-dissolving medication in some cases of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and pulmonary embolism.

It belongs to a group of medications known as fibrinolytics, and works by activating plasminogen through cleavage to produce plasmin. The half life of streptokinase is six hours.

Plasmin is produced in the blood to break down the major constituent of blood clots fibrin, therefore dissolving clots once they have fulfilled their purpose in stopping bleeding. Extra production of plasmin caused by streptokinase breaks down unwanted blood clots, for example, in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

It is given intravenously as soon as possible after the onset of a heart attack (acute phase - myocardial infarction) to dissolve clots in the arteries of the heart wall. This reduces the amount of damage to the heart muscle. Streptokinase is a bacterial product so the body will build up an immunity to it. It is recommended that this medication should not be used again after four days from the first administration, as it may not be as effective and can also cause an allergic reaction. For this reason, it is usually given only for a person's first heart attack.

It is marketed in Chile as Streptase by Alpes Selection, under license of ZLB Behring from Marburg, Germany.

v • d • e Antithrombotics (thrombolytics, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs) (B01)
Vitamin K antagonists	Acenocoumarol, Clorindione, Dicumarol (Dicoumarol), Diphenadione, Ethyl biscoumacetate, Phenprocoumon, Phenindione, Tioclomarol, Warfarin
Heparin group (Platelet aggregation inhibitors)	Antithrombin III, Bemiparin, Dalteparin, Danaparoid, Enoxaparin, Heparin, Nadroparin, Parnaparin, Reviparin, Sulodexide, Tinzaparin
Other platelet aggregation inhibitors	Abciximab, Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), Aloxiprin, Beraprost, Ditazole, Carbasalate calcium, Cloricromen, Clopidogrel, Dipyridamole,Eptifibatide, Indobufen, Iloprost, Picotamide, Prasugrel,Prostacyclin, Ticlopidine, Tirofiban, Treprostinil, Triflusal
Enzymes	Alteplase, Ancrod, Anistreplase, Brinase, Drotrecogin alfa, Fibrinolysin, Protein C, Reteplase, Saruplase, Streptokinase, Tenecteplase, Urokinase
Direct thrombin inhibitors	Argatroban, Bivalirudin,Dabigatran, Desirudin, Hirudin, Lepirudin, Melagatran, Ximelagatran
Other antithrombotics	Defibrotide, Dermatan sulfate, Fondaparinux, Rivaroxaban
Non-medicinal	Citrate, EDTA, Oxalate