Value of streptokinase and heparin in treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis.

B. ROBERTSON, INGA MARIE NILSSON, AND G. NYLANDER (Department of Surgery, Coagulation Laboratory, and the Department of Roentgenology, University of Lund, Malmo, Sweden Three coded series of patients, 50 in all, with acute deep venous leg thrombosis of at most 96 hours' duration were treated with streptokinase (Kabikinase(R), Kabi) or heparin by intravenous drip (Table I) followed by subcutaneous heparin (150 to 250 regression was not always accompanied by improvement of the phlebograms. Administration of streptokinase was regularly followed by a high blood fibrinolytic activity. The plasminogen fell to 1 to 4% and the fibrinogen to 64% of the initial value. No split products could be demonstrated 24 hours after the infusion. In several of the streptokinase-treated patients bleeding complications occurred after the infusion during the treatment with subcutaneous heparin. Our findings show that streptokinase is superior to heparin in the treatment of acute venous thrombosis