Local inhibition of thrombosis using urokinase linked to a monoclonal antibody which recognises damaged endothelium.

A monoclonal antibody which binds to damaged endothelial cells was covalently linked to urokinase in an attempt to produce a thrombolytic agent which could be localised to areas of endothelial damage. The conjugate was shown to be effective in inducing localised thrombolysis in vitro, and in a rat vena cava thrombosis model brief exposure of the intimal surface of the isolated vena cava to the antibody -urokinase conjugate prevented or reduced subsequent stasis-induced thrombosis without inducing a systemic lytic state.