Obstructive Vascular Disease Treated by Urokinase

Eleven cases of obstructive peripheral vascular disease were treated with urokinase, including seven cases of occlusion of iliofemoral arteries and four cases of occlusion of femoral and popliteal veins. There was one additional case of complete obstruction of carotid arteries. In every case the patency of the vessels was reestablished by angiography, or by a striking improvement in symptoms and signs in those patients who refused repeat angiógraphy. Urokinase may be effective in chronic as well as acute vascular occlusions. The safety of the procedure indicates that a trial of this therapy is justified.