[Age-related problems in the procedure of fibrinolytic treatment with streptokinase (author's transl)].

600 patients aged 24 to 78 were treated by streptokinase infusions. 38 patients were older and 562 patients younger than 65 years. Most indications of fibrinolytic therapy were chronic arterial occlusions and stenoses. The outcome of lytic treatment was dependent upon the occlusion's age, e.g., occlusions of 0--2 weeks standing were dissolvable in 75%, of 2--6 weeks standing in 57%, and of 6 weeks to 3 months standing in 38%. Very similar results were seen in iliac and aortic occlusions. Stenoses displaying crumbly irregular patterns in the angiogram responded as well to streptokinase infusion. No correlation between lytic success rate and patient's age was seen. Cerebral accidents occurring during fibrinolytic treatment amounted to 1.42% in the age group above 65 years and to 5.26% in the group under 65 years. This difference was significant at p less than 0.036.