Deep vein thrombosis treated with streptokinase or heparin: A randomized study

Randomly assigned streptokinase or heparin therapy was studied in 50 patients with deep vein thrombosis of less than 2 weeks' duration. Veno graphy was performed prior to therapy, after 3 days, and after 10 days. Two radiologists who were unaware of the patient's therapy compiled a single average lytic score for each patient at each time interval. Lysis of venous thrombi was significantly greater with streptokinase than with heparin after 3 days, but not after 10 days of treatment. Lytic scores achieved with streptokinase were significantly better than those achieved with heparin therapy (P <.01) in male patients who were symptomatic for 3 days or less. In females, regardless of the duration of symptoms, throm bolytic results obtained with streptokinase were not significantly different than results obtained with heparin.