ABSTRACT
CASE: CALL IN THE CLOT BUSTERS Dr. Creek is a cardiologist in a large urban hospital. While on call late one night, he is summoned to the emergency room (ER) to treat an apparent heart attack victim. Upon arriving in the ER, he quickly confi rms that the patient has indeed suffered a severe heart attack and he quickly administers supportive measures. Among the treatments he orders is the immediate administration of intravenous (IV) streptokinase over the next hour. Streptokinase is actually a bacterial enzyme that is often used to treat heart attack victims. Dr. Creek notes with satisfaction that blood fl ow to the heart tissue signifi cantly increases, raising hopes for the patient’s safe recovery. 1. What exactly is an enzyme? 2. How does streptokinase increase blood fl ow to the patient’s heart
tissue? Can any enzyme do this, or is there something special about streptokinase?
