Fibrinolytic (Plasmin) Therapy of Experimental Coronary Thrombi with Alteration of the Evolution of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

To explore the possibilities of fibrinclytic therapy of coronary thrombosis, experimental studies were carried out to document lysis of coronary thrombi and to investigate the effect of fibrinolytic blood upon myocardial infarction. Serum-induced coronary thrombi were produced by a new technic and were followed by serial coronary arteriography. Control animals were compared to animals in which significant fibrinolytic activity had been induced by systemic infusions of plasmin. Tissue studies suggest that plasmin may change the evolution of early infarction. Whether these changes will ultimately result in salvage of ischemic tissue will be determined by studies now in progress.