Not available outside of the UK & Ireland.

Application

Streptokinase (SK) is commonly used as a thrombolytic agent in the therapy of ischemic stroke. This therapy carries the important risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Streptokinase is also used in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyema where adverse reactions, allergic type, are rare. The product has been used to measure SK activity in brain heart infusion culture supernatant fluids of the various wild-type and mutant strains of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. Equisimilis.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Streptokinase C is an extracellular enzyme that is produced by various strains of β-hemolytic streptococci. It is a single-chain polypeptide that exerts its fibrinolytic action indirectly by activating the circulatory plasminogen.

Physical form

Supplied as a frozen solution containing 60 mM phosphate buffer and 0.6 M glutamate. Albumin-free

Unit Definition

One unit will liquify a standard clot of fibrinogen, plasminogen, and thrombin at pH 7.5 at 37 °C in 10 min.