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Is Activase the same as tPA?

Sometimes healthcare professionals use "tPA" to refer to Activase because it was the first tissue plasminogen activator that was approved. But this may cause confusion and has been the reason behind dozens of medication errors. The main issue is that Activase is indicated for managing acute myocardial infarction, acute ischemic stroke, and acute massive pulmonary embolism. But the other tissue plasminogen activators—Retavase and TNKase—are indicated ONLY for managing acute myocardial infarction, and are not FDA-approved for acute ischemic stroke or pulmonary embolism...

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Articles of Interest

Impacts of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) on neuronal survival

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) a serine protease is constituted of five functional domains through which it interacts with different substrates, binding proteins, and receptors. In the last years, great interest has been given to the clinical relevance of targeting tPA in different diseases of the central nervous system, in particular stroke.

The Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Story

When we sought initially to purify the plasminogen activator from Bowes melanoma cell culture fluid in 1979, we observed that the activator, unlike urokinase, had a specific affinity for fibrin. When mixtures of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator were clotted, the activator remained associated with the clot. However, with the use of purification methods developed previously for t-PA, no homogeneous final product could initially be obtained.

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA)

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, tissue-type plasminogen activator) is a serine protease found on endothelial cells (cells that line the blood vessels) involved in the breakdown of blood clots (fibrinolysis). tPA enzyme catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. tPA can used in embolic or thrombotic stroke research. tPA may be manufactured using recombinant biotechnology techniques. tPA created this way may be referred to as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA).

Who You Gonna Call? Clot-Busters!

Thrombolytic drugs are a lifeline for many patients with acute myocardial infarction and stroke; however, these drugs come with a risk of unwanted bleeding because they distribute throughout the entire body and inhibit clotting systemwide. A new drug-delivery strategy that relies on shear stress may mitigate clotting risks by activating the clot-busters only when needed.

Why Is This Stroke Drug So Dangerous?

Researchers shed light on how tPA causes a life-threatening side effect--and how it might be fixed. A stroke drug known as tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator, has been a lightning rod since it was first approved in the United States in 1996. Although studies have found that the drug can reduce the brain damage wrought by strokes, it can also cause potentially fatal bouts of cerebral bleeding. Now a team of researchers has identified one reason for tPA's ill effect. And it turns out that in mice, the problem can be eased by administering a cancer drug.

Resources

Alteplase (Activase)

Alteplase is a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) used as a thrombolytic agent. It cleaves plasminogen to form plasmin, an enzyme involved in the degradation of fibrin clots. In the absence of fibrin, the alteplase-mediated conversion of plasminogen is limited, thanks to the high affinity between alteplase and fibrin.

Retavase

RETAVASE® (reteplase) is indicated for use in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in adults for the improvement of ventricular function following AMI, the reduction of the incidence of congestive heart failure, and the reduction of mortality associated with AMI. Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after the onset of AMI symptoms.

Tenecteplase

The only lytic delivered as a 5-second IV bolus for the treatment of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), TNKase® (tenecteplase) enables you to intervene quickly.