Table 1.

A comparison of three generations of thrombolytics in terms of their structure and biological properties.

Thrombolytics	Domains	Protein data bank IDs	Mode of action	Fibrin affinity	Fibrin selectivity	Half-life [min]	Risk of inhibition	Risk of side-effects
First generation
Streptokinase	α, β, γ	1BML	Indirect	None	None	10	Low	High
Urokinase	EGF, K1, P	4DVA, 2I9B	Direct	None	Low/nonea	8	High	High
Second generation
Tissue plasminogen activator	F, EGF, K1, K2, P	1TPG, 1TPK, 1BDA	Direct	Moderate	Moderate	4.5	High	Low
Third generation
Desmoteplase	F, EGF, K1, P	1A5I	Direct	High	High	138	Low	Low
Staphylokinase	α	1BUI	Indirect	None	High	6	Low	Moderate

^aProurokinase is fibrin-selective, urokinase is not fibrin-selective.