Streptokinase clot lysis time in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

✓ Antifibrinolytic therapy using epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) was administered to 34 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 27 of whom had aneurysms. The streptokinase clot lysis time (SCLT) was used as an index to determine whether patients were receiving adequate doses of medication. Two days of continuous intravenous treatment with 30 to 36 gm per day of EACA were usually required to achieve therapeutic range, as judged by the SCLT. With continued monitoring, doses could then be reduced to as low as 24 gm per day, depending on the requirements of each individual. The authors believe that EACA therapy with SCLT monitoring is valuable in the early conservative treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage pending definitive aneurysmal surgery.