$Unique_ID{BRK00349}
$Pretitle{Blood and Blood Forming Organs}
$Title{Use of Clot Dissolvers in Treating Heart Attack}
$Subject{clot dissolve heart attack TPA}
$Volume{D-7}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Use of Clot Dissolvers in Treating Heart Attack


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QUESTION:  Is there such a thing as a "clot dissolver"?  Would it be a good
medicine to use if the patient was supposed to be having a heart attack?  Is
it very expensive?

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ANSWER:  Your questions almost tell me the story, which you didn't include in
your letter, but I am happy to provide this information to you.  Yes there are
such medications, used, in your case I imagine, in the early hours following a
heart attack.  Technically a heart attack occurs when one or more arteries
which feed blood to the heart become blocked by a blood clot.  The blood can
know longer reach the heart muscle, and the cells die from lack of oxygen and
nutrition.  It is this dying process which provokes the pain of the heart
attack.  Using medications called "thrombolytics" or clot dissolvers,
physicians attempt to break down that blockage and restore the flow of blood
to the heart muscle.  The sooner the medication is administered after the
blockage, the less chance there is of damage to the heart muscle, and the size
of the damaged area my be reduced.  This is a relatively new method of
treating new heart attacks and the rules are changing as time goes on.
Although originally used only in the first few hours after the attack, the
time limit is growing longer and longer as we find that patients may benefit
from the medication as late as 6 to 8 hours later.  And yes, it may be very
expensive.  The latest development in this area is a medication called a
tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) which can effectively dissolve clots, but
may cost as more than $2,000 for a single injection.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
