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Intravenous streptokinase is an effective thrombolytic agent for patients with acute myocardial infarction, but neutralizing antibodies to the drug can develop within days of administration. Since an increasing number of patients are receiving repeat doses of streptokinase for recurrent infarctions, this study investigated how long the neutralizing antibodies persist.
Researchers measured streptokinase neutralization titers and specific antistreptokinase IgG antibody levels in 145 subjects who had previously received streptokinase. Regardless of whether the drug had been given 24, 36, or 48 months previously, about half the patients had neutralization titers sufficient to inactivate a conventional dose of the drug. Specific IgG antibody leve…