Streptokinase, an exotoxin, is a potent activator of plasminogen within a clot. We theorized that subtherapeutic doses of streptokinase labeled with131I might tag clots sufficiently for isotopic visualization. We injected131I streptokinase into dogs that had experimentally produced clots, with and without prior Streptokinase administration. Results showed that, for diagnostic purposes, the pulmonary emboli and venous thrombi could not be adequately defined by the131I streptokinase. It did not sufficiently localize in the clots for positive imaging. Clot-labeling was variable and background radiation levels were high. When dogs were heparinized to prevent the clots from enlarging, clot-labeling with131I streptokinase was similar to that obtained using131I alone.
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