Which medication is a thrombolytic agent?

Which medication is a thrombolytic agent?

• A. Retavase (r-PA)
• B. Heparin
• C. Aspirin
• D. Warfarin

Answer: (A)

Clot-dissolving medications, called thrombolytics, work by activating plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks down fibrin strands in a clot. Retavase, also known as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-PA), is a thrombolytic agent that accelerates this process to dissolve clots. The other options are not thrombolytics: heparin is an anticoagulant that enhances antithrombin III to inhibit thrombin and factor Xa, preventing clot growth but not actively dissolving existing clots. Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug that blocks platelet activation and aggregation. Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant that reduces the synthesis of vitamin K–dependent clotting factors. So Retavase is the thrombolytic agent among these choices.

Clot-dissolving medications, called thrombolytics, work by activating plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks down fibrin strands in a clot. Retavase, also known as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-PA), is a thrombolytic agent that accelerates this process to dissolve clots. The other options are not thrombolytics: heparin is an anticoagulant that enhances antithrombin III to inhibit thrombin and factor Xa, preventing clot growth but not actively dissolving existing clots. Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug that blocks platelet activation and aggregation. Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant that reduces the synthesis of vitamin K–dependent clotting factors. So Retavase is the thrombolytic agent among these choices.