Figure 3:  .

Prothrombotic effects of fibrinolytic treatment. Coronary thrombus is composed of a platelet core with fibrin-thrombin admixture ("white" and "red" clot). After fibrinolytic treatment, there is exposure of free thrombin, which autocatalytically begets more thrombin and strongly promotes platelet aggregation (note more platelet mass). Platelets themselves are resistant to fibrinolytic treatment and furthermore secrete large amounts of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), which is a potent antagonist to fibrinolysis. Reproduced from Topol EJ. Circulation 1998;97:211-18, with permission.