Fibrinolysin (plasmin) therapy in acute deep thrombophlebitis. A controlled study.

THE magnlitude of the literature dealing with deep thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities and its complications reflects not onily the interest that this disorder commands among physicians but also the extensive controversy that it has generated. Controversy surrounds even such fundamental problems as the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism, the natural course of the process, and the adequacy of available diagnostic criteria.1-21 When viewed against this background of debate over basic issues, the differences of opinion regarding the effects of various forms of therapy in acute deep venous occlusion are readily understood. Venous ligation and anticoagulant therapy alone or in combination have attracted strong advocates.2'4, 7. 8, 20-22 This debate over therapy is complicated by the variations in the specific manner in which therapy is applied.4' 17, 20-27 Furthermore the results can be interpreted only after consideration of the criteria used for selection of patients, the specific measures of improvement, and the therapeutic objectives. Since methodologic details obviously influenee the results and since identical methods rarely have beeni used in evaluation of therapeutic agents in thrombophlebitis, the obvious corollary has been a wide divergence ill results.2 Recentlv, a new aspect has been added to