A mathematical model of plasminogen activation and fibrinogenolysis during thrombolytic therapy with t-PA

Blood clot lysis depends on a large number of physiological processes that are usually regulated by the human fibrinolytic system. In the presence of occlusive pathologies of blood vessels, like in acute myocardial infarction, the administration of exogenous thrombolytic agents is widely used to accelerate the dissolution of thrombi. We present a mathematical model of the dynamics of plasma substances during therapy with the thrombolytic agent t-PA (tissue-type Plasminogen Activator). On the basis of in vitro knowledge a preliminary model was formulated and thorough simulation studies were performed to analyze in detail the various processes. Some novel hypotheses emerged regarding the biochemical reactions in vivo, and were included in a revised model which well qualitatively describes experimental observations reported in literature.