Abbokinase (urokinase)

Pharmacology

Tradename: Abbokinase

Indications

• IV catheter occlusions caused by blood clots
• recent severe or massive deep vein thrombosis
• pulmonary emboli
• myocardial infarction

Contraindications

Caution:

• use with caution in any patient with a condition in which slight bleeding may cause a substantial hazard

Pregnancy category: B

Safety in lactation: ?

Dosage

• 5000 IU reconstituted solution
• slowly inject an amount equal to the catheter volume
• aspirate every 5 minutes PRN
• if unsuccessful, allow urokinase to remain in the line 30-60 minutes before aspirating
• 5000 IU solution may be repeated once

Powder for injection: 250,000 units (5 mL vial)

Pharmacokinetics

• cleared by the liver & kidney
• elimination 1/2life is 10-20 minutes

Adverse effects

• common (> 10%)
  • bronchospasm, periorbital swelling, angioneurotic edema, anaphylaxis, bleeding at sites of percutaneous trauma, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension
• uncommon (< 1%)
  • epistaxis, anemia, eye hemorrhage, rash, headache, nausea/vomiting, chills, sweating
• other
  • minimal when used to open catheters
  • allergic reactions

Mechanism of action

• proteolytic enzyme produced naturally by the renal parenchymal cells that promotes thrombolysis by converting plasminogen to plasmin

More general terms

• urokinase
• fibrinolytic agent (thrombolytic agent)
• enzymatic agent

Additional terms

• urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor; uPAR; U-PAR; monocyte activation antigen Mo3; CD87 (PLAUR, MO3, UPAR)