Primary or secondary fibrinolysis

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Blood clot formation

Blood clots

Fibrinolysis is a normal body process that keeps naturally-occurring blood clots from growing and causing problems. 

Primary fibrinolysis refers to the normal breakdown of clots.

Secondary fibrinolysis is the breakdown of blood clots due to a medical disorder, medicine, or other cause.

Fibrinolysis

Blood clots form on a protein called fibrin. The breakdown of fibrin (fibrinolysis) can increase under certain conditions (such as intense exercise, inadequate oxygenation of tissues, low blood sugar, or bacterial infections).

In some situations, doctors may wish to speed up the rate of fibrinolysis. For example, when an abnormal clot forms in the blood vessels of the heart and results in a heart attack, man-made fibrinolytic substances (such as tPA, streptokinase, or Retavase) may be given to break up the culprit clot.

Review Date: 05/03/2006
Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.