 
         
         Summary
         
         This review analyses literature reports from 1970 to 1998 assessing the use of streptokinase
            (SK), urokinase (UK) or recombinant tissuetype plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for thrombolytic
            therapy in neonates and infants. From 1970 to 1998 182 infants were reported to have
            received SK (n = 54; 29.5%), UK (n = 41; 22.5%) or rt-PA (n = 87; 48%). During thrombolytic
            therapy no concomitant heparin administration or low dose heparin therapy (5 U/kg/h)
            were recorded. To perform reocclusion prophylactics heparin was reinitiated at the
            end of thrombolytic therapy usually in the recommended dosage of 20 U/kg/h. The overall
            thrombolytic patency rate in neonates varied from 39% to 86%. Besides bleeding from
            local puncture sites or recent catheterisation sites (10.4%), pulmonary embolism was
            reported in 1.1% of the 182 infants. Major bleeding complications, i.e. pulmonary
            bleeding (0.6%), gastrointestinal bleeding (0.6%) or intraventricular haemorrhage
            (IVH 2.7%) are rarely reported side effects and only 2 thrombolysis related deaths
            due to haemorrhage were mentioned. Bleedings reported in the central nervous system
            (n = 4) mainly occurred in preterm infants (n = 3). In conclusion, data of this preliminary
            analysis suggest that there is no big difference (p = 0.09; χ2-test) in the efficacy rate between the 3 thrombolytic agents used in the first year
            of life. In each case an assessment must be made with respect to the relative benefit
            conferred by thrombolytic therapy in preventing organ or limb damage versus the potential
            side effects, costs and inconvenience for the childhood patient. Controlled prospective
            multicentre studies on thrombolytic therapy in neonates and infants are recommended
            to evaluate patency rates and adverse effects for the different thrombolytic agents
            used.
         
         Key words
Thrombolysis - heparin - infancy - intracranial haemorrhage