Role of fibrinolytic agents in thrombotic diseases.

Critical analysis of existing data demonstrates that fibrinolysin in conjunction with anticoagulant therapy decreases the morbidity in patients with thrombophlebitis. This conclusion was the result of comparison of data from hospital charts of 20 patients in a fibrinolysin-treated series and a control group of 22 patients. The comparison was made after outlining the necessary criteria for the arbitrary selection of patients and setting up rules to be followed in the interpretation and grading of the clinical information. The author also reviews the theories of clot lysis that have been put forward, with the realization that a final answer has not yet been determined.