Streptokinase & tPA: Understanding Blood Clot Dissolvers

Streptokinase and tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) are both thrombolytic agents, which means that they are used to dissolve blood clots. They work by converting plasminogen, a protein that is present in the blood, into plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down fibrin, the protein that forms blood clots.

Streptokinase is a bacterial protein that was first isolated from strains of Streptococcus bacteria. It is a broad-spectrum thrombolytic agent, which means that it can dissolve a wide variety of blood clots. However, streptokinase can also cause allergic reactions and other side effects, so it is not as commonly used as tPA.

tPA is a naturally occurring protein that is produced by the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. It is a more specific thrombolytic agent than streptokinase, which means that it is less likely to cause bleeding complications. tPA is the preferred thrombolytic agent for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, a condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain.