What is thrombolytic therapy?
Definition Thrombolytic therapy is the use of drugs that dissolve blood clots. Purpose When a blood clot forms in a blood vessel, it may cut off or severely reduce blood flow to parts of the body that are served by that blood vessel. This can cause serious damage to those parts of the body. If the clot forms in an artery that supplies blood to the heart, for example, it can cause a heart attack. A clot that cuts off blood to the brain can cause a stroke. Thrombolytic therapy is used to dissolve blood clots that could cause serious, and possibly life-threatening, damage if they are not removed. Research suggests that when used to treat stroke, thrombolytic therapy can prevent or reverse paralysis and other problems that otherwise might result. Thrombolytic therapy also is used to dissolve blood clots that form in tubes put into people’s bodies for medical treatments, such as dialysis or chemotherapy. Description Thrombolytic therapy uses drugs called thrombolytic agents, such as altepla
