Streptokinase in the treatment of acute arterial occlusion of the hand.

Continuous, low-dose, intra-arterial streptokinase was used to treat six patients with ischemia of the hand secondary to distal arterial occlusion. A bolus dose of 100,000 U of streptokinase was administered, followed by a maintenance dose of 5000 U/hr, which was titrated against the patients' coagulation profile. The duration of infusion ranged from 16 to 96 hours. Recanalization was achieved in four patients who were treated within 36 hours of the onset of occlusion.