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(Stroke. 2003;34:e48.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Reports

Increase in Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Acute Stroke Patients With Thrombolysis Failure

Ji Hoe Heo, MD, PhD; Seo Hyun Kim, MD; Kyung Yul Lee, MD; Eun Hee Kim, BS; Chong Kyu Chu, MD Jeong Mo Nam, PhD

From the Departments of Neurology and Preventive Medicine (J.M.N.), Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Reprint requests to Ji Hoe Heo, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Shinchon-dong 134, Seodaemoon-ku, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. E-mail jhheo{at}yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Background and Purpose— Platelet-rich thrombi are resistant to thrombolytics. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in platelet aggregation and contribute to thrombolysis failure in stroke patients.

Methods— Plasma samples from 23 stroke patients who had received thrombolytics and from 47 healthy volunteers were examined for MMP-2 and MMP-9 by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and zymography.

Results— The arteries were recanalized in 15 patients but not in the other 8. The MMP-9 plasma level was significantly higher in patients whose arteries were not recanalized.

Conclusions— MMP-9 may be associated with the formation of a thrombolytics-resistant thrombus.

Key Words: metalloproteinases • stroke, ischemic • thrombolytic therapy