Fibrinolytic Enzymes for Thrombolytic Therapy

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders consisting importantly of coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Severe cardiovascular disease conditions lead to acute myocardial infarction and stroke. One of the reasons for this is formation of blood clots inside the vessel. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs are used for managing cardiovascular diseases for a long time. However, they were unable to dissolve an existing thrombus. Fibrinolytic enzymes have become more substantial for treating cardiovascular diseases since they could lyse the fibrin clot within the blood vessel. Inability of plasma fibrinolytic system demands better thrombolytic drugs. Major thrombolytic enzymes belonging to plasminogen activators and plasmin like enzymes. Currently used fibrinolytic enzymes and their limitations are revisited in the present chapter. Reported enzymes from various sources with potential to be used as cardiovascular therapeutic is also discussed here.