The fibrinolytic system during short-term treatment with tenoxicam.

The effect of 20 mg tenoxicam once daily for 7 days on various components of the fibrinolytic system was studied in 10 healthy volunteers. Plasma plasminogen, antithrombin 3, and prekallikrein decreased significantly while plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor increased significantly. The medication did not affect fibrin plate lysis area or the plasma level of plasminogen activator, alpha-2-antiplasmin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, C1 inactivator or Factor XII. It is suggested that these changes may be caused by interference with hepatic enzyme systems. The reduction in plasma prekallikrein may indicate that tenoxicam exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by more than one mechanism.