What are streptokinase and tPA known to do?

Streptokinase and tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) are both thrombolytic agents, which means that they are used to dissolve blood clots. They work by converting plasminogen, a protein that is present in the blood, into plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down fibrin, the protein that forms blood clots.

Streptokinase is a bacterial protein that was first isolated from strains of Streptococcus bacteria. It is a broad-spectrum thrombolytic agent, which means that it can dissolve a wide variety of blood clots. However, streptokinase can also cause allergic reactions and other side effects, so it is not as commonly used as tPA.

tPA is a naturally occurring protein that is produced by the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. It is a more specific thrombolytic agent than streptokinase, which means that it is less likely to cause bleeding complications. tPA is the preferred thrombolytic agent for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, a condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain.