A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. Coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen. Blockage of a coronary artery deprives the heart muscle of blood and oxygen,causing injury to the heart muscle. Injury to the heart muscle causes chest pain and chest pressure sensation. If blood flow is not restored to the heart muscle within 20 to 40 minutes, irreversible death of the heart muscle will begin to occur. Muscle continues to die for six to eight hours at which time the heart attack usually is "complete." The dead heart muscle is eventually replaced by scar tissue.
Approximately one million Americans suffer a heart attack each year. Four hundred thousand of them die as a result of their heart attack.
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Retavase®
(reteplase, recombinant)
Retavase® (Reteplase) is a non-glycosylated deletion mutein of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), containing the kringle 2 and the protease domains of human tPA. Retavase® (reteplase) contains 355 of the 527 amino acids of native tPA (amino acids 1-3 and 176-527). Retavase® (reteplase) is produced by recombinant DNA technology in E.coli. The protein is isolated as inactive inclusion bodies from E.coli, converted into its active form by an in vitro folding process and purified by chromatographic separation. The molecular weight of Reteplase is 39,571 daltons.
Potency is expressed in units (U) using a reference standard which is specific for Retavase® (reteplase) and is not comparable with units used for other thrombolytic agents.
Retavase® (reteplase) is a sterile, white, lyophilized powder for intravenous bolus injection after reconstitution with Sterile Water for Injection, USP (without preservatives). Following reconstitution, the pH is 6.0 ± 0.3. Retavase® (reteplase) is supplied as a 10.4 unit vial to ensure sufficient drug for administration of each 10 unit injection. Each single-use vial contains:
| Reteplase | 18.1 mg |
| Tranexamic Acid | 8.32 mg |
| Dipotassium Hydrogen Phosphate | 136.24 mg |
| Phosphoric Acid | 51.27 mg |
| Sucrose | 364.0 mg |
| Polysorbate | 805.20 mg |
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Retavase »
Last reviewed on RxList: 9/15/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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