[Indications for thrombolytics].

Thrombolytic drugs, streptokinase and urokinase, were initially used in pulmonary embolism. More recently, new drugs like alteplase, reteplase, lanoteplase and saruplase have been a breakthrough in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Their efficacy has been demonstrated when treatment is initiated before the 6th hour of infarction onset. A 50% reduction of death rate is expected, if treatment starts within the 1st hour. Alteplase and reteplase are the most efficient thrombolytics despite a higher risk of cerebral bleeding. In pulmonary embolism with clinical signs of severity, thrombolysis is clearly indicated. In deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, therapeutic thrombolysis is still controversial. Some acute ischemic strokes (before the 3rd hour) could be treated with alteplase if there is no absolute or relative contraindication for thrombolysis. In prosthetic heart valve thrombosis, thrombolysis may be used if surgical treatment is contraindicated but the risk of bleeding and embolism should be taken into account.