value of low dose streptokinase [sk] as adjuvant therapy in acute deep vein thrombosis [DVT]

ABSTRACT

From 1989 to 1992 40 deep vein thrombosis selected patients [22 females and 18 males], their ages ranging from 18 to 52 years with a mean age 32 years, were treated with streptokinase with a loading dose 500,000 units then subsequent maintenance doses of 250,000 units every 12 hours for 3 days. The clinical signs of DVT subsided in 75% of treated patients within 28 days of completing SK therapy. A repeat phlebography was performed on admission and within 7-28 days after SK therapy and a total recanalization or partial thrombolysis was achieved in 75% of the studied cases. Four patients developed severe bleeding needed interruption of SK administration and 3 patients developed pulmonary embolism, none of them died. This report emphasizes the clinical and radiological effectiveness as well as the risk of bleeding complication during SK therapy and if streptokinase is to be used, therefore careful selection of patients and meticulous monitoring are mandatory