What are thrombolytic drugs?

Acute thromboembolic disease in selected patients may be treated by the administration of agents that activate the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, a serine protease that hydrolyzes fibrin and, thus, dissolves clots. Streptokinase, one of the first agents to be approved, causes a systemic fibrinolytic state that can lead to bleeding problems. Alteplase acts more locally on the thrombotic fibrin to produce fibrinolysis. Urokinase is produced naturally in human kidneys and directly converts plasminogen into active plasmin. Thrombolytic drugs may lyse both normal and pathologic thrombi