tenecteplase (TNKase)

Introduction

Modified version of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, Activase) with 3 amino acid substitutions.

Advantages

• longer 1/2 life than tPA
• may be given as a single bolus injection over 5 seconds
• seems to cause fewer bleeding complications than tPA
  • less extra-cranial bleeding
  • similar risk of intracranial bleeding & stroke

Dosage

• 30-50 mg IV bolus (single dose)
• for use with unfractionated heparin or LMW heparin

Adverse effects

• intracerebral hemorrhage 0.9%

Mechanism of action

• relatively fibrin-selective plasminogen activator

More general terms

• recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA, t-PA, rt-PA,)

Additional terms

• thrombolytic therapy